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A N
ACCOUNT
OF THE EFFICACY OF THE
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA,
0 R,
SOLUTION OF FIXED ALKALINE SALT,
' SATURATED WITH F1XIBLE AIR,
1 N
CALCULOUS DISO RD E R S,
AND OTHER x
COMPLAINTS OF THE URINARY PASSAGES.
B V
WILLIAM FALCONER, M. D. F. R. S.
AND
PHYSICIAN TO THE GENERAL HOSPITAL AT BATH.
THE FOURTH EDITION:
Additions, Alterations, and feveral new . ::cC
inferted in any former Edition.
L^
_
1665KI O X D O »
PRINTED FOR T 7!C&BBG&^rffT . H E STRAND;
A*D SOLD ALSO BY J. KILLICK, NO. 7, BROAD WAY, Bl
FRIARS, NEAR LUDGATE-HILL,
M DCC XCH.
"Fiice Three Shillings.]
j&r .^^-^^1
„-- "' < '
-
c-v^uj^o^a-
T O
BENJAMIN COLBORNE, Es<^
OF THE
CITY of BATH.
D B A R SIR,
PERMIT me to congratulate you
on the increafing reputation of a
remedy, whofe efficacy you have ex-
perienced fo fully, and to which your
prefent happy ftate of health, as well
as that of feveral of your friends and
acquaintance, is moft undeniably to
be afcribed.
The benefits to be imparted to
mankind by its publication, have, I
know, been your only motives for
wifhing the information, which thefe
fheets may contain, to be as widely
difperfed as poffible, in order that by
variety of communications its true
A chara&er
2 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
The honour, however, of the difcovery of
what I apprehend to be its mod important
quality hitherto known, that of relieving
calculous complaints, is due to a gentleman
of this city, Benjamin Colborne, Efq. who
had formerly been of the medical profeffion,
which he practifed many years with great
reputation to himfclf, and fervice to mankind.
Having been afevere Sufferer from this dif-
order, he was induced to make trial of Several
of the mod celebrated remedies, but wras,
after long and fad experience, convinced but
too well of the inefficacy or danger of moft, if
not all of the fo boafted iithontriptics. He was
then led, fortunately for himfelf, to make trial
of the remedy now under confideration ; and
the event anfwered much beyond his hopes,
and has added greatly to his happinefs ; not
only by the relief he has himfelf experienced
from it, but alfo by the opportunities it has
afforded him of indulging, in the moil dis-
interested manner, his benevolent difpofition,
by recommending its ufe to feveral of his friends
who laboured under the lame malady.
Mr. Colborne was led to this difcovery,
partly from cbferving the diflblvent powers
of
AC>UA MEPKITICA ALKALINA. 3
of alkaline falts upon the urinary calculus out
of the body, and frill more by remarking the
changes produced by their internal ufe on the
urine of thofe afflicted with thefe diforders,
rendering that clear and of a natural colour,
which was before turbid and difpofed to pre-
cipitation. The difc.greeable tafte, however,
of the uncombined alkali, which is moreover
fo naufeating to the ftomach, together with
its cauftic, feptic, and irritating erects on the
animal fyftem, the urinary paiTages particu-
larly, were great difcouragements to its ufe.
Could thefe be obviated by any combination
that would frill leave the alkaline fait at li-
berty to unite with the acid that is fuppofed
to contribute to the formation of thefe calculi,
the purpofe of preventing their being gene-
rated, or poffibly of diffolving them when
formed, would probably be in a good meafure
anfwered.
Fixible Air feemed to him adapted to this
X.
purpofe in every refpecl:, as it forms with the
alkali a neutral fait, perfectly mild in its na-
ture, agreeable to the tafte and ftomach, and
powerfully antifeptic. At the fame time their
combination is fo loofe, that the alkali is
B z eafily
4 CNT THE EFFICACY OF THE
eafily feparated from the air by any other acid
it may meet with.
He moreover found by experience, that this
combination poffefied no inconfiderable dif-
folvent powers upon the human calculus out
of the body. Hence he was induced to make
trial of it himfelf, and to recommend it to
others. The accounts of its fuccefs here
fubjoined will, I truft, prove that his ex-
pectations were not ill founded.
The molt convenient method of preparing
the alkaline folution is as follows. Put
two ounces and a half troy weight, or, if
troy weights are not at hand, two ounces and
three quarters * avoirdupois, of dry fait of
tartar into an open earthen vellel, and pour
thereon five full quarts, wine meafure, of the
fofteft water, that is clean and limpid, that
can be procured, and ftir them well to-
gether with a clean piece of wood. After
(landing 24 hours, carefully decant, from any
indiflbluble
Two ounces and a half troy weight contain 1200
grains; two ounces and three quarters avoirdupois
contain 1201 grains and a quarter of a grain.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 5
indifibluble refiduum that may remain, as
much as will fill the middle part of one of
the glaft machines for impregnating water
with Fixible Air *; The alkaline liquor is
then to be expofed to a ft ream of Air accord-
ing to the directions commonly given for im-
pregnating water -f with that fluid. When
the alkaline folution has remained in this
fituation till the Fixible Air ceafes to rife, a
frefh quantity of the fermenting materials
mould be put into the lower part of the ma-
chine, and the folution expofed to a fecond
ftream of Air, and this procefs repeated four
times. When the alkaline liquor (hall have
continued about 48 hours in this fituation, it
will be fit for ufe, and mould then be care-
fully drawn off into perfectly clean bottles
(pints are I think preferable), and clofely
corked up. The bottles mould then be
B 3 placed
* If the fait of tartar be £Ood, and perfectly fo-
luhle in the water, every ounce meafure ot the alka-
line folution fliould contain feven grains and a half of
alkaline /alt.
t The directions given with the machines fold by
Mr. I lett-ftreet, or by MefTrs. Neale anct
Bailey, No. 8, Sr. rauTs Church- Yard, will be fuf-
ficient for thole who choofe to prepare this remedy
themfeives.
6 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
placed with their bottom upwards * in a cool
e; and with thefe precautions it will keep
:al weeks, and perhaps much longer,
very good. The quantity of alkaline folution
above directed to be mixed at the beginning
of the foregoing directions, is judged to be
fufficient to fill the glafs machines of the
common iize twice over, without pouring off
the liquor fo deep as to hazard making the
o turbid, by ftirring up the indiilbluble
reiiduum which is precipitated at the bottom -f*
of the veffeL The water in which the alkali
is dii 1, ftiould be as free of foreign im-
pregnations as pofiible, as the alkali, by de-
cor: ; them, will not only^cloud the
water, but form other combinations incon-
fiftcnt, perhaps, with the effe&s to be wiflied
for from the remedy. The intention there-
of mixing the fait of tartar with the
the day before, and of the caution
rec< I in pouring it off, is to allow
time
* A fhelf with holes in it to put the necks of the
bottles into, fuch as are commonly ufed for wine de-
fers, is convenient for this purpoic.
f If the alkaline folution as above direcled fhould
be found too irritating, it may be made with a fmallcr
proportion of the fait. See Mr. Meluioth's Cafe.
AQUA MEPKITICA ALKALINA. J
time for any precipitation occaiioned bv the
mixture to fettle, as well as to feparate the
indiflbluble parts of the fait of tartar itfelf.
Nor is Ids attention neceffary in procuring
the filt of tartar pure and in perfection ; and
on that account it mould be got from fuch
places only as can be depended upon. When
properly prepared, the alkaline mephitic wa-
ter mould be perfectly clear and rather fpark-
ling, of an acidulous tafte, and totally free of
that difagreeable imprefiion which alkaline
ialts make on the tongue and throat #.
About eight ounces by meafure appear,
from fome of the cafes, to have been taken
thrice in 24 hours for a considerable time
together, and to have agreed weil with the
ftomach, appetite, and general health; but
I apprehend moil people will think this too
large a quantity ; and I believe that, for mod
B 4 cafes,
* Tliofc who do not choofe, or to whom it is incon-
venient to prepare this remedy the .\ ! (elves, may have
it, made according to the above directions, of ohr*
KiUick, No. 7, Broad-way, Blackfriars, near I J-
gate-Hill. For the conveniency of carriage, s v. ;1I
as the better preservation of the virtues 01 t .e prepa-
ration, it is put into fmall bottles, each of winch con-*
tains one moderate dofe.
3 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
cafe , or a pint of the alkaline
liquor in 24 hours, may futh:e : (hould the
; oi the fep te d fes* be thought too
;e, the alk li c foliation may be made of
double the ftreogth ; in which cafe, half the
quantity will b- enough. The times of
taking three dofes m the da) h;ve been, I
ieve, pretty eany in the morning, about
noon, and about fix in the evening, li tvv.ee
a day, about noon and in the eve and
if once, which m man v eX is furhcient
for a preventive about an hour and a half
before dinner. Common prudence dictates
that fuch a remedy ihoul J be taken at fuch
times as rhc ftomach is likely to be
... .
I do not find, from obf:rvation or inquiry,
the.* ^e to any particular re-
gimen of diet is neceiLry, tarther than the
uiual prudential cauuons 01 moderat^i and
temperance.
The Rev. Dr. Cooper has made ufe
of fruit, wine, and other things fubject to
accictncy,
* Sec Dr. Cooper's Cafe.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALTNA, 9
acefcency, during the time of his taking the
Tollmen \ yet no perfon, as will appear by his
very judicit us account, has received greater
benefit. I, ho vever, think it would be ad-
viiabie to abftain from acids, and from fuch
things as are iiibjedl to become acefcent, for
forne time before, and alfo after the time of
taking the dofes of the alkaline folution. I
do not find, either from my own obfervation,
or from the accounts of others, that any
very perceivable effects, lave that moft to be
wilhed, the abatement of the troubkfome
fymptoms, followed the taking this remedy.
I have inquired of a very ienhblc perfon of
this city, who has taken the folution in the
largeft quantity of any that I have known ;
and he allures ine, that he found no effect:
from it, fave that of gently opening the
body.
Mr. Bewly fpeaks of a dofe of it that he
took affecting the head (with vertigo I lup-
pole), and proving a p etty ftrong diuretic.
Bit fuch conferences have not bexnobferved
b; all .hole pet Ions of whoiii I have had an
opportunity of inquiring; The perlon before
referred to, informed me, that though it kept
the
lO ON th£ efficacy of the
the body gently open, it had no effect in
increafing the quantity of urine. Mr. Bewly's
dofe was indeed large, he having taken, at one
dofe, fuch a quantity of the alkaline folution
as contained 24 ounces by meafure of Fixible
Air, whereas the quantity of air taken at a
time in a dofe of the folution above directed,
is not calculated to exceed 15 ounces; but
this was repeated three times a day, and no
fuch effect obferved. With refpecl to the
diuretic quality, it is well known that the ex-
pectation of fuch an effect from any thing we
take, will often prove a very powerful means
of producing it.
Should it prove cold or flatulent to the fto-
mach, as I have myielf known it to do, though
I beLeve that rarely happens, a fmall portion
of fpirits, as rum or brandy *, or any of the
other fpirituous waters or tinctures, may be
ufed without any diminution of its good
effects. A tea-fpoonful of rum is mentioned
to be taken with each dofe of the folution, in
pne of the cafes fubjoined ; and I have myfelf
directed a fmall quantity of tincture of carda-
moms and of compound fpirit of lavender,
with
* Sec Dr. Cooper's Cr.fe.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. II
with evident advantage. Mr. Colborne has
found hot milk, in the proportion of about one
fourth to that of the alkaline folution, to be
a very grateful addition, efpecially in cold
weather, and what tended much to reconcile
it to the ftomach, and this without impairing
in the leaft its good qualities.
If the urinary paffages are very fore or ten-
der, and the fyftern very irritable, it will be
neceffary to ufe opiates. Five, ten, twenty^
or thirty drops of tincture of opium, or a
proportionable quantity of the paregoric elixir,
muft be taken as neceffity may require, once
or twice a day during the reft of this remedy.
The opiate may be taken either juft before,
or juft after the taking the alkaline water ; but
the quantity of the opiate fhould be diminished
gradually, and at laft totally laid afide, when
the pain and other urgent fymptoms have
either ceafed, or fo far abated, as not to caufe
any great uneafineis.
CASE
12 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE I.*
Benjamin Colborne, Efq. of this city, was,
in the year 1760, attacked with a violent
nephritic parpxyfm, which, after continuing
fevcn or eight days, and being treated with
anodyne, oily, and mucilaginous medicines
and bleeding, terminated in the difcharge, by
urine, of a red frone larger than a vetch or
tare, after which he continued tolerably well
for eight or ten months ; often, however,
obferving fmall calculous concretions to come
away, attended with irritation of the urinary
paffages. In about ten months after the firfh
attack, he had another, but neither fo vio-
lent or of fo long duration, which terminated
like the firft, in the difcharge of a flone of a
fimilar colour to the foregoing, but of a
fmaller fize. The nephritic paroxyfm again
returned in about live or fix months, but not
fo violent as at firft. During this time he
was
* The Cafes bef re related, are here reprinted as in
the third Edition. What has heeu added in the two
laft editions is put down in Italics, with the date pro-
le Where no addition is made to the Cafes before
led, no information has been received of the
patient's health.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 13
was in a courfe of taking mucilaginous and
lubricating remedies.
After this he made trial of Mrs. Stephen's
remedy, as prepared by Dr. D'Eichernay, of
which he took about an ounce in a dav, once
or twice a week.
After this he continued free of nephritic
complaints about a year and a half. That
medicine, however, agreed fo ill with his
ftomach, producing naufea, indigeftion, and
crudities, that he was obliged to leave it cfF.
About three or four months afterwards he
had another attack, which returned again
upon him every ten or twelve weeks. At
this time he was in a courfe of taking an in-
fufion of the wild carrot feed, and drank
diftilled water as his ufual drink.
In the year 1766, he made a trial of
Blackrie's lixivium (or Chittick's remedy) ;
and though it agreed with him rather better
than the foap, yet it was fo cauftic and irri-
tating to the mouth and throat, and produced
fuch painful fenfations in his ftomach, that
he was obliged to leave it off; after which,
his
. *4 0N THE EFFICACY OF THE
his nephritic paroxyfm returned every eight
or ten weeks as before. In the year 1774,
he went to Spa for a laint in his bowels,
which he afcribed to the ufc of his cauftic
lixivium, and, during the time of his drinking
thefe waters, had no return of calculous com-
plaints ; but on his coming back to England
he was attacked as formerly.
In the beginning of the year 1778, he made
trial of water {imply impregnated with Fixible
Air, which proved too irritating and diuretic*
On March 27th of the fame year, he had an
attack of the gout, which continued on him
until the 14th of April, when he was taken
with a violent vomiting, attended with pain
in the left kidney. By the help of the warm
bath and bleeding, he palled another calculus.
After this he had a fecond attack of the gout>
which continued a few days.
As foon as it was over, he began the ufe
of the alkaline medicine with Fixible Air, as
above defcribed, of which he took about fix
or feven ounces twice a day. During the ufe
of this he parted with no gravel, his urine
depofited no fediment whatfoever, or difco-
1 loured
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I5
loured the vefTel, though, if it was omitted
even for a few days, thefe appearances took
place, and fmall bits of gravel were perceivable
in his water.
From this time he continued in perfect
health, and free of all nephritic complaints,
until the 26th of Auguft, 1783, when,
about three in the morning, he was taken
with an irritation in the urinary pafiages,
which prevented his fleep ; his urine how-
ever was not high coloured : about feven in
the morning he had two purging ftools ; he
had but little pain in the kidney, but a heavy
obtufe fenfation over the os pubis, which
continued with fome ficknefs till about two
o'clock, when the ftone feemed to enter the
bladder. From that time he became per-
'fectly eafy.
In order to discharge the ftone from the
bladder, he drank large quantities of mucila-
ginous liquors, and retained his urine as long
as pofiible. About fix in the evening he dis-
charged a red calculus, Smaller than what he
had before done*
It
i6 6n the efficacy of the
It is proper to obferve, that he had been
at Harrowgate about four or five weeks before
this happened, and drank the Harrowgate
water, which as it acted not only as a pur-
gative, but as a diuretic alfo, he was induced
to think he might fafely omit the alkaline
folution. It appeared however, to his great
difappointment, that the calculus was gene-
rated during that interval. From that time to
the prefent, he has never, for two days fuc-
ceffively, omitted taking the mephitic alka-
line folution, and has never fince felt the
fmallefl uneafinefs ; no grains of fand or other
precipitation in the urine, nor any difcoloura-
tion of the vcflel, except when the medicine
is omitted for a day. But, upon taking the
folution again, the urine made afterwards
diflblves the former difcolouration, and flill
continues perfectly clear. During the time
he was fubjeft to nephritic paroxyfms, his
urine was fubject to putrify very foon ; but
fince he has taken the folution, it will keep
three or four days in the warmeft weather
without ihewing any figns of that difpofition.
His general dofe as a preventive is about
feven ounces daily. His health, ftrength,
and fpirits, are all peiiedtly good; and, as
he
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. lj
he thinks, better than they were twenty years
ago.
Since the above account was written, which
is now about two years ago, Mr. Colborne
has had two fits of the gout; the one flight,
the other more fevere, which laft confined
him for a fortnight; both fits, however,
went off perfectly well, without any tranfla-
tion of the gout to the head, lungs, or any
of the vifcera. He drank the mephitic alka-
line water, with the addition of a little
brandy, during both the fits, and it agreed
vvith him perfectly well. His health, ftrength,
and fpirits, are as good now as they were two
years ago.
December 16, 1788.
Mr. Colborne has taken the mephitic alkaline
'water but once or twice in a week for four or
jive months pa ft > yet his chamber -pot has kept
clean from any inert ft at ion or adhefions. He
thinks that his appetite has been better upon the
days he took the mephitic alkaline water. He
has had more of the gout this November (1788)
than for three or four years p aft.
C December
iS ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
December I, ijQl.
Mr. Colborne informs me, that he has had
Tto return of his complaints for many years paji,
not with (landing his having often omitted taking
the alkaline water for three or four months to*
get her ; yet, even during that time, his urine
feldom forms any depojit that adheres to the
chamber-pot.
CASE II.
Mrs. Southcote, a lady of this city, was
firft afflicted with complaints of this kind
about the year 1754, when fhehad an attack
that lafted feveral days ; after which, to her
great furprife, fhe voided a calculus, not
having before apprehended the nature of her
diforder. She continued free from any com-
plaint of the kind for about ten years, when,
in the year 1764, fhe had a return, and from
that time the attacks recurred everv ten or
twelve weeks, accompanied with the difcharge
of numerous calculi : one, however, fhe had
reafon to believe remained, and probably ftill
remains too large to pals, which aggravated
her pain, and produced blood on the ilightefl
motion.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. T9
motion. The pains in the kidneys, never-
thelefs, flill continued; and the lafl paroxyfm
(he had of this kind, which was in 1779, was
fo violent, that her life was defpaired of for
ten or twelve days. At laft, however, after
taking large quantities of oily and mucilagi-
nous remedies, the free ufe of opium, and the
warm bath, an oblong ftone was difcharged,
about the (hape and fize of a large orange feed.
As foon as (lie had recovered^ little ftrength
after this fevere attack, ihe began, in the fa 5
year, to make trial of the aqua mephitica al-
kalina, taking fix or kvcn ounces twice a day,
which flie ftill perfevered in. Since that
time (lie has had no more nephritic attacks,
has parted with no calculi, and her urine con-
tinues clear and free of fediment. She often,
feels a fenfation of weight, and fome uneali-
nefs in her bladder, but has any bloody water,
bears exercife well, is able to walk for an
hour or two at a time, and ufes a carriage
almoft: daily without pain or aggravation
of uneafinefs. Her general ftate of health,
though valetudinary, has been much better
fince the trial of this remedy than before.
Since the above cafe was drawn up, and
fent to the printer, I have received the fol-
lowing account :
Ca In
2d ON 1*HE efficacy of the
" In the beginning of September, I7?4,
Mrs. S. went into Berkshire, where fhe con-
tinued three weeks. Soon after her arrival
fhe was feized with a feverifh complaint,
which occafioned her to omit the alkaline
folution, which file not only difcontinucd
during her flay in the country, but for a
month after her return to Bath. During this
interval, fhe began to feel fome uneafinefs in
her left kidney, on which fhe again com-
menced the ufe of the remedy once a day. On
Dec. 27th laft, flie was feized with pain and
other fymptoms attending the paffage of a
calculus ; which, after a painful night, came
away about nine the next morning. It was
about the fize of a pea. She foon recovered,
and is now well and eafy."
It is her opinion, and appears highly pro-
bable, th.it this calculus was formed during
the time of the remedy's being omitted. Mrs.
Southcote has had no return of her nephritic
complaint, and is able to walk and bear the
motion of a carriage without the leaft pain or
inconveniency ; but feels fometimes an uneafy
fenfation in the bladder, and believes fhe has
two calculi formed there. April 30, 1787.
Since
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, 21
Since the above account was publifed, Mrs.
Southcote had two attacks of the apoplexy, the
lajl of which carried her off , after a fart illnefs,
on January if, 1788, aged 68 years. Her
body was opened by Mr. Symons, an e?ninent
furgeon of this place. Her liver was found in
a putrid fate ; the gall bladder of thefize of a
hens egg, and its coats a full quarter of an inch
thick. In the middle of the cyfic duel was
lodged a biliary calculus, of thefize of a child's
marble, which might be prejj'ed back into the
gall bladder, but not forwards. The bladder
and kidneys were p erf e 51 ly found, and free from
any calculous concretion of any kind.
CASE III.
The Reverend Dr. Cooper, of Sunning, in
JBerkfhire, a moft worthy and amiable cha-
racter, is like wife a remarkable in fiance of
the efficacy of the neutralized alkaline folu-
tion.
But this gentleman's cafe is related by him-
felf, in a letter to my late friend, with fuch
accuracy and propriety, as well as animated
clefcription, fuggefted by the memory of feel-
c3 ings
ii
ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
ings too feverc to be erafed, that I cannot
forbear giving it to the reader in his own
words; fubjoining alfo a confirmation of the
benefit he had received, and of his prefent
good ftate of health, extracted from a letter
I myfelf had the p!eafure lately to receive from
him. One trivial circumftance I will take
the liberty to remark, that Dr. Cooper, in
one part of his letter to Dr. Dobfon, feems
to have thought that the aqua mephitica al-
kalina, or alkaline folution laturated with
Fifcible Aii*, was recommended in the Medical
Commentary, as a remedy for calculous dif-
orders; whereas it is only recommended there
as containing a large quantity of Fixible Air,
which was to be fet loofe by a fubiequent
addition of an acid,, which was directed to be
taken immediately after the exhibition of the
alkaline folution. It does not appear that Dr.
Dobfon, at the time he compofed the Medical
Commentary on Fixed Air, was at all ac-
quainted with the good effects of the alkaline
folution thus impregnated in thefe complaints.
Though he reconu. snds its uie, it is only
with a view to its immediate decompofuion
by an udd. The remedy, however, from
which D;. Cocper received benent, was, as
appears from his own account, the alkaline
folution
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 23
folution faturated with Fixed Air, without
any other addition ; though he occafionally
made ufe of the effervefcent faline draught,
when a machine for impregnating the water
with Fixed Air was not at hand.
The Rev. Dr. Cooper's Letter to Dr. Dobfon,
*f Dear Sir,
" It gives me great pleafure to hear you
defign taking up the pen again in favour of
Fixed Air. The efficacy of that volatile
principle (when combined with fome alkaline
fait) in putrid and other diforders, is fuffi-
ciently manifefted in your very ingenious
Commentary on that fubjecT:; and nothing
now is wanting completely to eftablifh its
character, than the making better known to
the world its fuperior virtues in nephritic
complaints alfo. Of this fuperiority, I am
fenfible, you have feveral proofs before you,
even in this place, and fome of them much
ftronger than perhaps my cafe may be ; ne-
verthelefs, if that can in the leaft degree pro-
mote the caufe of truth, and affift your bene-
volent defign, it is mofl heartily at your fer-
vice. Indeed, I feel myfelf under fo great
C 4 obligations
24 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
obligations to the virtues of Salt of Tartar
end Fixed Air, for retelling me from a ftate
of mifery and pain, and reftoring me to the
full enjoyment of health and eafe, that it
would appear the higheft ingratitude in me
to be filent, whenever it is in my power to do
juftice to their worth.— It was in the begin-
ning of Auguft, 1772, if I recollect right,
that I was firft attacked with what is called
a fit of the gravel, which lafted about twelve
hours ; bine mihi prima laics. As I had till
then been quite a ftranger to the nature as
well as fymptoms of the diforder, I was at a
lofs how to account for the ficknefs and pains
I felt, till a fin all flone, which came away,
too well convinced me from what caufe they
arofe. The continual apprehenfions I now
was under, of having a return of thofe pains,
and the dread I entertained of being afflifted
with a complaint which I had always heard
jftyled the epprcbrium medieorum, deftroyed
every comfort, and embittered every hour of
jny life. I did not fail, however, you may
fre fure, Sir, having recourie to the beft ad-
vice I could find, and took care fcrupuloufly
to adhere to every rule and every method of
cure prefcribed me. I fcon perceived, never-
thelefs,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 2$
thelefs, with great concern, that my diforder,
inftead of abating, gradually increafed, con-
formable to thejuft obfervation of Mr, Pope,
that
" The young difeafe, which muft fubclue at length,
f( Grows with our growth, and ftrengthens with
iC our ftrength."
I now continually voided great quantities of
land, or rather, of very fmall ftones of a
bright red colour ; and, at the diftance of
every two or three months, and fometimes
oftener, when a larger flone was formed than
could eafily pafs the ureters, I underwent the
mod: excruciating torments before it reached
the bladder. The paroxyfms, at thefe time?,
lafted full thirty hours, and once or twice
much longer, attended with an acute burning
pain in the region of the kidneys and round
the abdomen, a numbnefs down my thighs
and legs, a conftipation of my bowels, with
violent ficknefs at my ftomach. Caflor-oil,
fomentations, emollients, and warm bathing,
which ufed before to afford me eafe in common
fits, here often failed of fuccefs, and nothing
but opiate draughts could adminifter the leaft
relief. Nor did my furferings always termi-
pate with the Hone's being at length fafely
lodged
26 ON THE EFFICACr OF THR
lodged in the bladder ; for twice, in its endea-
vours to pafs the urethra, the done unhap-
pily remained fixed there for feveral hours,
and confequently brought on again an intole-
rable pain, with a total fuppreffion of urine.
To attempt giving an idea of what I felt on
, thofe occafions, is beyond the power of words;
even at this diftanceof time, while I am now
writing, animus meminijfe horret — it is to be
conceived only by thofe who have had the
misfortune to be afflicted with the ftone,
*' As I was convinced that the milder re-
medies, . which I had hitherto followed, were
unable to prevent a frequent return of thefe
paroxyfms, I determined to have recourfe to
more violent ones, fuch as lixiviums and fol-
vents. Of the former, I preferred that re-
commended by Mr. Blackrie, known before
by the name of Chittick's Receipt for the
Stone. This I took regularly for four months,
ftrictly obferving the i ules laid down with it,
I do not remember I had any very violent
attack of my complaint, during the courfe of
this medicine ; but it fometimes occafioned
me to make bloody water, and I continually
voided a good deal of gravel. Perceiving,
however,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 2J
however, that my health, fpirits, and appe^
tite began to be afflicted by the feptic regimen,
enjoined to affift the operations of the lixi-
vium, I thought it high time to leave it ofFj
and foon after had the additional mortification
to know, that, whilil every thing elfe, that
could render life an object of defire, was
about to leave me, my calculous complaints
remained firm and rooted as ever,
" From this cauftic medicine, I turned my
eyes to Perry's Solvent, which, as I found its
character and virtues came ftrongly recom-
mended to the public under the fanction of
many refpectable names, I lamented I had not
thought of fooner, and considered all the time
as thrown away, which I had hitherto be-
llowed on other remedies. My application,
however, to this boafted medicine, was fol-
lowed by no better iuccefs than what had at-
tended me before ; for at the end of three
months, during which time I took it, I
found all my fond hopes and expectations at
once deftroyed by one of the fevereft fits of
the ftone I had ever felt. Willing to give
this celebrated folvent the faireft trial, I per-
severed in the ufe qf it long after I found it by
no
2? ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
no means fuited to my conflitution ; for it in-*
duced fuch a coftive habit of body, as ren-
dered my life very uncomfortable, and fome-
times was indeed quit. .1 mmg.
ft It would be difficult, as well as tirefome,
to endeavour to enumerate the variety of other
noftrums, which, during the courie of fulj
feven years, I was perfuadcd to fwallpw :
" Non, mihi (i linguae centum Tint, oraque centum,
ct Ferrea vox, omnes poffim comprendere^'ormas."
Let it fufhxe to fay, that finding from none
of them any other kind of benefit than tem-
porary fufpenfions of pain, I quite defpaired
of ever meeting with any thing that would
afford me efTen tial and permanent relief. At
length, however, in the beginning of April
1780, a friend of mine put into my hands
vour publication, before mentioned, on Fixed
Air : pleafed with the account given in ir, of
the many cures performed by thai and fait of
tartar, on putrid and other difeafes, and with
the great probability of the faccefs of thefe
combined articles in nephritic complaints, as
likewife encouraged by the eftabliihed cha-
racter and reputation of its amiable author,
I determined immediately to make trial of this
extraordinary
AQtTA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 2£
extraordinary medicine; and accordingly pro-
vided myfelf with a Fixed Air machine, and
apparatus neceffary for the purpofc.
" About the middle of the fame month t
entered on a courfe of the Medicated Water
and Fixed Air, taking it in the form and
quantity prefcribed as in your pamphlet, and
foon had great reafon to congratulate myfelf
on my undertaking ; for in about a fortnight's
time I perceived a very fenfible alteration in
myfelf, as well with refpect to my complaint
in particular, as to my health in general.
The latter I found greatly mended both in
my fpirits and appetite $ and the uneafy fen^
fations of the former, about the kidneys,
were entirely removed. I no longer voided
either fand or gravel ; nor did I feel that con-
tinual irritation to make water, which I did
before ; nor was my fleep disturbed by fuch
frequent, yet fruitlefs, calls to it : in fhorr,
from the happy enjoyment of eafe and com-
fort, to which I had fo long been a ftranger,
I now feemed to myfelf quite a new creature.
" I purfued this method about four
months, when my farther progrefs in it was
flopped
$0 ON THE EFFICACY OF TIP
flopped by a feverifh attack, which confined
me for three weeks. As foon as that was
removed, I had recourfe again to the Salt of
Tartar and Fixed Air, and have continued it,
with but little interruption, ever fince. I can
allure you, Sir, with the greateft truth, that
from the time I began taking this medicine,
to the date of the prefent writing, I have
never had any the lean: return of my com-
plaint, excepting once, about two years and a
half ago, I voided a fmall ftone, without pain,
about the fize of a little pea, or vetch, quite
fmooth, and almoft perfectly round. I have
moreover, in every other refped:, enjoyed an
uninterrupted ftate of good health. When I
am on a journey, or anient from home, when
I cannot be fupplied with a Fixed Air ma-
chine, I neutralize each dofe of the medi-
cated water (fweetened with a little fugar)
with juice of lemons, before I take it, which
has the fame effect as the mephitic acid.
" With regard to regimen, I confefs, I
obferve none, except the avoiding every thing
falted or dreffed too high. No other re-
ftridtion of diet can be neceffary with a me-
dicine, whofe virtues feem beft afiifted by
thofe things which are, at the fame time,
moil
AC^UA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 31
moft falutary and agreeable to the nature and
conftitution of the human frame, fuch as
wine, milk, fruits, vegetables, and the like.
On this account, the medicine in queftion has
certainly great advantages over thofe of the
cauftic kind ; for the fame reafon, perhaps,
it may be fuppofed to yield to them info/vent
powers. Neverthelefs, if, as experience fhews,
\t prevents the J "or mat ion of thofe fubftances in
the kidneys and bladder, which form the
human calculi, or the increafe of them after
they are formed, its claim to merit as a preven-
tative is equally great -, at the fame time, when
its perfect innocence, nay, even beneficial
effects on the conftitution, are taken into con -
fideration, few people, I believe, will hefi-
tate to pronounce the Medicated Water and
Fixed Air fuperior to all other medicines hi-
therto recommended for nephritic complaints.
A fair trial of them for three years, will, I
hope, fully juftify me in averting this fupe-
riority ; and if health, eafe, and comfort, are
bleffings we all covet and defire, the having
reinstated me in the happy enjoyment of them,
when well-nigh loft, muft ever entitle the
Salt of Tartar and Fixed Air remedy to my
fincereft
12 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
fincereft thanks and moft grateful acknow-
ledgments.
I am, dear Sir, with the truefl efteem,
Your very obedient,
and very humble fervant,
Bath, April 16th, Edward Cooper.
1783-
" N. B. I forgot to mention, that, in the
fpring of the year 1782, I was feized with a
fit of the gout in both my feet, which con-
fined me full three weeks j neverthelefs, I ftill
continued the ufe of my medicine, adding
only to each dofe about half a tea-fpoonful of
mm 5 nor did I find the leaft prejudice or in-
convenience from it."
Extratf of a Letter from t/jeKtv. Dr. Cooper
to William Falconer, M. D. dated Dec. 18,
1784.
" All that I have farther to add now,
relpeiting myfelf, is, that I ftill continue as
well, and as free from 2ny return of my com-
plaint, as I was when I drew up my cafe in
April 1783. I conftantly perfevere in the
ufe of the alkaline folution with Fixible Air,
drinking once or twice a day, as it happens*
about
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 33
about two ounces of the Medicated Water,
which never fails acting as a preventative, and
keeping me intirely free from every the leaft
fymptom of gravel or ftone; though I have
great reafon to think, from the pain I have
formerly felt in the region of my kidneys, that
a ftone is formed in one of them."— •
It may be neceffary to remind the reader,
that the quantity of alkali contained in the
folution ufed by Dr. Cooper, is double to that
ufed by Mr. Colborne ; fo that the two
ounces mentioned in Dr. Cooper's letter as
his daily dofe, are equal to twice that quantity
of the folution directed in the former part of
this Work.
Extract of a Letter, dated April 1, 1787.
" My health is, I thank God, full as good
as when you laft heard from me, nor have
I had any, even the leaft, return of my old
complaint, which I can attribute to nothing
but my perfevering in a courfe of the above-
mentioned medicine. I purfue the fame me-
thod of taking it that I have done hitherto,
excepting that now I have fcldom recourfe
D to
34 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
to it above once a day, inftead of twice, which
I former] v had. The effects of it as a preven-
tative I find equally powerful as they have
ever been -, and long experience has fully 'con-
vinced me that this medicine is no lefs inno-
cent, than it is falutary to my conftitution.
It is true indeed I have had two fits of the
gout, the one in September 1785, and the
other in January 1787, but in neither did I
defift from taking the Aqua Mephitica Alka-
lina. On the contrary, I continued it during
the whole time of both thofe fevere vifita-
tions, and, with the precaution of adding a tea-
fpoonful of rum or brandy to each dofe, found
it fit quite eafy and comfortable on my
ftomach."
The following is an Ext raff from a Letter 1
received from Dr. Cooper, dated Novem-
ber 26, 1788.
" Taanfwer mo fe particularly your inquiries
Concerning ?ny pt cjent Jlate of 'health , I have the
pleajure to afjure you that it is full as good as
n I Jaw you lajl "winter at Bath, 'bating the
fomewhat Jarther advance in age, and its at-
tendant infirmities. I believe I then told you,
that
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 35
that for the whole preceding Summer, and great
part of the Auti:. I. had been aff idled mith a
very painful and dangerous i/Ine/s; aid that
during my confine;:: it under it, which Lifted
near five months, I was obliged to abftain from
the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina. I found how-
ever no inconvenience from the difufe of it, either
by any return of pain in my kidneys, or any other
(even the leaf) hint of a gravelly complaint*
Since that ' time, I have again entered upon a
courfe of that medicine, but neither info large a
quantity, nor fo frequently repeated as before, as
I now take it once only in the day, and that
not regularly. Befides, whenever bufinefs or
engagements call me from home, I oftentimes o??iit
it for a fortnight together, and find my j elf juf-
tified in this omiffion by a total freedom from
every fymptom of, or tendency to, either theflone
or gravel. Should I unfortunately find any hints
of either of thefe fufificient to alarm me, I fioould
immediately increafe my dofe, and be more atten-
tive to the frequent and regidar returns of taking
it-, nor have I the leaf doubt, but that the
virtues of the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina would
foon dfperfe every anxious fear and uneafy fore-
boding"
D 2 Dec.
36 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
December 1, 1791.
Dr. Cooper has had no return of his nephritic
complaint , though he does not take the Mephi-
tic Alkaline Water conJia?itly.
CASE IV.
A refpectable perfon of this city, who de-
fired his name might not be made public, aged
65, of a habit of body efteemed to be fcor-
butic, had been for feveral years accuftomed
to the ufe of medicines that acted upon the
urinary organs, as expreffed juice of millepedes
and tindture of cantharides.
About three years ago he was feized with a
confiderable degree of pain in the urinary paf-
fages, and in the rectum. He likewife voided
feveral fabulous concretions, fome of the fize
of a pepper-ccrn, or vetch, and had frequent
returns of bloody urine, in which the propor-
tion of blood was often fo large as to coagulate
nearly in the fame manner as if it was recently
drawn from the arm. Great pain, as may
well be fuppofed, attended thefe evacuations.
For thefe fymptoms he took, by advice,
Blackrie's
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 37
Blackrie's lixivium, from forty to eighty drops,
thrice a day, in veal broth or onion pottage,
and made a large ufe of onions alfo in his diet.
His pains and bloody urine increafing under
this regimen, he was induced to make trial of
honey, which he took to the quantity of near
half a pound daily, flill continuing the ufe of
the lixivium. The honey feemed to adl as a
ftrong diuretic, and to aggravate his pain fo
much, as to render it neceffary to be laid aiide,
as well as the lixivium. He then made trial
of water, fimply impregnated with Fixible
Air, for about a month, but without any &n-
fible relief.
He next, by Mr. Colborne's advice, entered
upon a courfe of the Alkaline iblution impreg-
nated with Fixible Air, fimilar to that above
defcribed, which he commenced fomewhat
more than two years from the prefent time,
taking eight ounces of it thrice every day. In
lefs than three weeks after his firft taking it
he experienced the moft eflential benefit; his
pains abated, his urine became clear and of a
natural colour, without any fublidence or pre-
cipitation; and his health (fome flight pains,
D 3 occa-
38 ON THT EFFICACY OF THE
occafionally re g, excepted) nearly re-
stored.
It is proper to remark, that the cauftic lixi-
vium appeared to have very bad effects on the
fyfterru by difpofing the humours of the body
to a putrefactive ftate, which was in danced in
feveral refpefts, and particularly by frequent
hemorrhages from the nofe, that occurred
during its ufe ; a thing he was never before
fubjecl: to, and which has not occurred fince
the lixivium has been laid aiide.
For the laft year and half he has made no
bloody urine, has had no pain in pafling it, and
has voided no calculous concretions. For the
laft fix months he has taken only four ounces
Jthree times a day, which is but hal; the ori-
ginal quantity. It has operated as a gentle
aperient, giving one motion daily, but no more,
and thus fupplying the want of an aloetic pill,
which he was formerly obliged occafionally to
have recourfe to. It had not, however, any
feniible effect as a diuretic.
His appetite and health in general have been
very goou iince the ufe of the medicine. He
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 39
is now of a healthy and ruddy complexion, hale
and ftrong in his body, appetite and fpirits
good, bears exercife well in a carriage, and is
able to walk five or fix miles at a time without
fatigue, or any other inconvenience, and gene-
rally walks as far daily, whenever the weather
will admit of it. I had the fatisfaction this
day (April 14, 1787) of feeing the perfon
whofe cafe is here defcribed. He is in perfect
health, and ftrong and active for his years, and
has had no return of any calculous complaints
thefe two years. He has continued, and ftill
continues to take regularly every day, the
Mephitic Alkaline Water.
The perfon whofe cafe is here related, conti-
nues to take the Mephitic Alkaline Water occa-
fionally, but not conftantly -, and is quite free
from his former complaints of the calculous kind.
November 25, 1791.
The perfon here referred to, is, I am informed
by his family, free from any calculous com-
plaint at prefent -, but has had one or two at-
tacks, which were but very flight. He has how-
ever been far from regular hi the ufe of the re-
medy, having often omitted It for a corfiderabk
time together.
D 4 CASE
40 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE V.
The Honourable and Reverend G. Hamil-
ton, of Taplow, in B jhamfhire, a gen-
tleman between 60 and 70 years old, is ano-
ther inftance of the efficacy of this remedy ;
as appears from the following extrad; from a
letter of his to George Burges, Efq. of this
city, and by him communicated, with the
confent of Mr. Hamilton, to Dr. Dobfon.
<c I had been troubled with a ftone in my
bladder about five years, during which time I
took various folvents without any effed. In
the lpring of the year 1780, Mr. Pott ex-
traded a ftone weighing two ounces; fince
that time I have been free from pain, but at
times perceived gravel in my water, and now-
and-then pieces large enough to make me ap-
prehend the forming of another ftone. In the
winter of the year 1781, I was at Bath, and
very iorcunately became acquainted with Dr.
Cooper. He had been troubled with my com-
plaints, and was taking a medicine he ftrougly
recommended to me. He faid, he had taken
it near two years, to the beft of my remem-
brance,
AQUA-MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 41
brance, during which time he had avoided the
ufual fymptoms of this complaint. It was
water impregnated with Fixed Air, to two
quarts of which he put two ounces of fait of
tartar. He took a final 1 quantity of this twice
a day, in which he put fome fugar, and about
two tea-fpoonfuls of juice of lemons. He very
kindly treated me with a glafs whenever I
called upon him ; and as foon as I returned to
Taplow, I fent to town for a Fixed Air appa-
ratus. I got it in January 1782, and imme-
diately entered an the courfe prefcribed by Dr,
Cooper : only that I drink his two dofes at once,
and put the juice of half a lemon into mine,
as my ftomach agrees well with acids. Since
I have taken this, I have voided no gravel ;
nor have I Jjeen any fur on the chamber-pot,
its ufual forerunner.
" If this account may be of any fervice to
Dr. Dobfon, or his patients, he is welcome to
make what ufe he pleafes of it; for I may fay
with Dido,
" Hand ignara mali," &c.
Dated Taplow>
Apr. 8, 1783,
The
42 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
' g Is a Copy of a Letter 1 lately had
the pleafure of ret from Ivlr. Hamilton.
SIR, Taplow, April 10, 1787.
" YOUR letter of the 7th reached me this
morning ; in anfwer to which I can inform
you, that I continue taking the Fixed Air and
Salt of Tartar, and think I find benefit from it.
I this winter had occafion to confult Dr.
Warren for fome complaints, the chief of
which was lofs of appetite. He advifed me
to leave oft my medicine whilft I was taking
his prefcriptions ; I did fo for fome weeks, till
I found fome ugly pains in my back, occafioned
by fome very (mall ftones. This alarmed me,
and made me return again to my Fixed Air,
which loon relieved me. I recommended it
fome time ago to a Mr. Wood, my hofier in
Piccadilly, and to Mr. Charteris at Eton, and
they both affure me they have found great
benefit from it. I forgot to mention that
I voided three c: the fmall ftones above
mentioned. If what I have faid will be
of any fervice, you are welcome to infert
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 43
my letter in the new publication you have
in hand.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient humble fervant,
G. HAMILTON."
Mr. Hamilton isjince dead; but, as 1 hear%
had no return of any calculous complaint.
CASE VI.
William A inflie, Efq. of this city, a gen-
tleman between 80 and 90 years of* age, ac-
cu domed to take much exercife, in hunting
particularly, was feized in the year 1780 with
a pain and irritation in the urinary pafles, ac-
companied with a difcharge cf blood. This
continued eight or nine days, but without his
paffing any gravel or fand.
He continued tolerably well (though not
without frequent irritations of no great con-
fequence, in which, however, nothing of a
calculous nature was voided) until Augufl
1 78 1, when he was again feized with violent
pain and irritation, accompanied with bloody
urine, which came on after exercife on horse-
back. After fome time his urine became
clear,
44 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
clear, but a violent irritation remained for
two or three days longer; nothing, however,
of ftone or gravel came away.
In January 1782, he came from Dorfet-
fliire to Bath in a chaife, the motion of which
renewed his complaints, the irritation parti-
cularly, to fuch a degree, as to make it diffi-
cult for him to reach the end of his journey.
Soon after his arrival at Bath, he was advifed
to a triai of Adams's folvent, of which he
took fomewhat more than a guinea bottle ;
during the taking of which he thought him-
felf fomewhat better, the irritation being ra-
ther diminilhed : but towards the latter end
of February he was ftized with a great bleed-
ing at the nofe, which continued 48 hours,
with the lofs of fome quarts of blood.
The phyfician he confulted on this occa-
fion advifed him to leave off the medicine ;
but from that time the leaft motion brought
on pain, irritation, and bloody urine, fo as
to oblige him to flir out as little as poffible,
fince even the motion of a fedan-chair brought
on the above fymptoms.
In this ftate he continued, although he
was flill in the courfe of taking various mild
lubricating
AQIJA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 45
lubricating things, and laudanum occafionally,
to abate the pain, until about the beginning
of April 1783, when he was advifed to be-
gin a courfe of the Alkaline Solution faturated
with Fixed Air, which he took to the quan-
tity of eight ounces twice a day. He had not
taken it more than five or fix days, before he
found benefit : his pain abated, he became
able to walk a little ; but much motion ftill
brought on a return of bloody urine, and the
other fymptoms, but lefs in degree, and of
a fhorter continuance than formerly.
By the beginning of May he was fo well
recovered, as to venture to take a journey in
a poft-chaife into Dorfetfihire. The firft day
of his journey he travelled about 25 miles;
and the roads being very rough, and the car-
riage uneafy, brought on a return of his pain
and bloody urine. He however went for-
ward about 15 miles the next day, and the
roads being better, and the carnage eafy, felt
no inconvenience. The next day brought
him about 25 miles farther, to the end of his
journey, where he arrived in perfect eafe and
health.
About the twentieth of May he began to
diminifh the quantity of his medicine, taking
it
46 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
it once a day only. From this time he re-
mained perfectly well until the beginning of
Auguft, when he had a very flight return of
pain, which foon ceafed. In October fol-
lowing he was able to ride a horfe gently for
an hour and a half together without much
pain or uneafinefs ; and his water was then,
and had been a long time, of a natural co-
lour, plentiful in quantity, and voided with-
out pain or uneafinefs.
Mr. Ainflie died on the fifth of May 1786,
aged 87 years, of a peripneumonic complaint
contracted by expofure to cold, but without
any fymptoms that could be afcnbed to cal-
culus, or any diforder of the urinary paf-
fages.
CASE VII.
Mr. John Rolfe, of Ameftury, in Wilt-
fhire, was attacked in May 1779 with a fit
cf the gravel, which lattcd near two months,
and was at times very painful, and attended
with ficknefs, vomiting, and lofs of app the,
which continued until a calculus as large as
a vetch came away. He then grew butter,
and recovered his appetite. Between the
time
AQUA MEPHITICA AtKALINA, 47
time above mentioned, and the year 1784,
he had frequent returns of :: <e fame complaint,
which caufed iicknefs and vomiting in him
for a day, and fometimes for two or three
days before the gravel came away, which
fometimes would be nearly as large as a bar-
ley-corn. He drank on thefe occaiions an
infuiion of marfh-mallow roots, with gum
arabic, and other mild foftening ingredients,
and took caftof-oil occafionally. On Satur-
day Nov. 13, 1784, after being warmed with
'hunting, he became on a fudden cold and
chilly, with aching pains fimilar to thofe of
the rheumatifm in his fides, bread, back, and
limbs, which continued feveral days, and
feemed rather to increafe. On the 22d of
the fime month he felt fome pain in his fto-
mach and bowels, and applied on that occa-
fion to his apothecary, who gave him fome
opening phyfic, which operated very pro-
perly downwards, but caufed ficknefs and
vomiting. This induced him to think his
difeafe to be of the bilious kind ; and in con-
fequence thereof he took fome remedies which
gave him fome relief, but did not remove the
pains in his back, breaft, &c. Having at
that time fome bufinefs in Dorfet/hire, he
thought the journey might be of fervice to
his
48 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
his health ; and on Thurfday the firft of De-
cember he went to Salifbury, and from thence
to his friend's houfe in Donetfhire, which
was about thirty miles djftant from the lail-
mentioned city. This journey, which he
performed in one day on horfeback, increafed
his pain fo much, that it was with difficulty
he got to the end of his journey. The next
day he was better, but not free from the
pains above mentioned ; his appetite alfo was
very indifferent, his body coftive, and his
ftools hard and black. In this ftate, nearly,
he continued until the tenth of December, on
the evening of which day he was feized with
ficknefs at his ftomach, and a vomiting of
blood in confiderable quantity: the night fol-
lowing he was again feized with the vomiting
of blood, on which Dr. Pultney, of Bland-
ford, was lent for, who recommended to him
fome medicines, that flopped the bleeding. He
continued at his friend's houfe until the laft
day of December, when he returned home,
with his pains much as before, and his health
very indifferent. After he had been at home
about eight or ten days* he pa fled a fione
much larger than any he had before done,
being of the ihape of a barley-corn, but
larger. After this he found his health and
appetite
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 49
appetite better. After a few days, however, his
ftomach became again painful, fore, and ten-
der, and often fubjeft to vomiting -, and it was
with great difficulty he could bear the motion
of a poft-chaife. His complaint being now
judged to be a combination of bile, rheuma-
tifm, and gravel, he was ordered to Bath,
where he arrived May 5, 1785. Dr. Adair
was fent for a few days after his arrival, who
direfted him fome medicines, and a cautious
trial of the Bath waters. His health how-
ever not improving, his medicines were al-
tered, and a blifler applied to the ftomach,
which foon became eafier in refpedl of pain,
but his other pains in the back, breaft, &c.
remained as before, and his ficknefs and vo-
miting continued. Dr. Falconer was con-
futed about this time, who, in conjunction
with Dr. Adair, advifed him to try the Al-
kaline Water with Fixible Air, to be taken
in the quantity of a pint a day, divided into
three dofes, and to ufe the warm bath twice
a week. He had not taken the Alkaline
Water above two or three times, before he
found his appetite mended, and his pains ra-
ther abated. After continuing this courfe
for three weeks, his ftomach became fet-
tled, his appetite returned, his ficknefs left
E him
50 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
^^ him by degrees, and his vomiting ceafed en-
tirely ; and from that time he continued in
perfect health, and free of all gravelly com-
plaints. During the laft illnefs that he had,
his urine was of a deep colour; and notwith-
ftanding he made but a fmall quantity in the
courfe of a night, it left a great fediment in
the vefiel. But from the time he began to*
drink the Alkaline Water, his urine became
pale, came away freely, and in large quan-
tity, and left not the leaft fur or difcolour-
ation on the veffel. The above account is taken
from a letter g/~Mr. Rolfe to me, and exprejjed
as nearly as pojjible in bis own words. TZv
letter is dated from Amefbury, October igy
i785.
/ have, Jince the time above fpecified, had
the pleafure of the following account fro?n
Mr. Rolfe, dated Amefbury, January 5c,
1787:
" I fhould fconer have given you a line
refpecting my health, had it been other wife
than well. It is at prefent fo good, that I
do not remember it to be better ; though I
have voided a ftone in the courfe of the laft
fummer, in a decayed and crumbling ftate,
as
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. J'l
as it fell to pieces by the preffure of my fin-
gers. I account for my having this ftone by
my having in April laft broken my glafs ap-
paratus, and my not being able to get ano-
ther for the fpace of a month ; and in this
interval I apprehend the ftone was generated,
I ftill continue the Alkaline Water impreg-
nated with Fixible Air, taking about one
third of a pint three times a day."
CASE VIII.
Lieutenant-colonel Gould, aged 55, for-
merly of the third regiment of guards, was
fubjecT: to gouty attacks at little more than
thirty years of age, which have, at intervals,
attacked him ever fince. About nineteen years
ago, he was taken with frequent ftoppages
of urine, that would fometimes continue three
or four hours, and were not relieved but by
the ufe of a bougie, which he was obliged
frequently to have recourfe to, and once even
to wear one conftantly for two months toge-
ther. Thefe fits at firft had long intervals,
but of late years have become more frequent.
His urgings to make water were fo frequent,
that the retaining of it was very difficult, and
often impracticable. His urine v/as moftly
E 2 turbid,
$2 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
turbid, and had a ftrong tendency to putrefy,
and had an evident foetor of that kind when
voided. He ufed alfo to pafs a large quantity
of mucus in his urine, infomuch that it would
ftand nearly one inch deep in the pot, when
there was no more than a pint and a half of
water. He has at times palled red gravel, but
never any of fuch a fize as could be called a
calculus. He had confiderable pain and fen-
fation of weight in the hypochondria, which
fometimes extended to the back. At the
time of making water he had an inclination
to go to ftool. When the gout was in the
extremities, he was generally free from'thefe
complaints. About March laft, J 785, he
made trial of a vegetable diet of rice milk,
mafhed potatoes, turneps, &c. and drank
no fermented liquor, but barley-water only.
After continuing this regimen about three
weeks, he was feized with a fmarting pain
in the urethra, and pafTed about half a pint of
blood daily for two days fucceffively. Opiates,
fpermaceti draughts, with a change of diet to
one of animal food, and the moderate ufe of
wine, relieved thefe fymptoms, which were
followed by a flight fit of the gout. During
the fummer, air, and moderate exercife on
horfeback daily for fix weeks, amended his
general
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 53
general health, but his urine ftill continued
turbid and foetid. About the latter end of
Auguft laft, he had a flight and favourable
fit of the gout, which lafted about three
weeks ; his urine, however, continued as
before. On Friday, October 7th, he began,
by Mr. Colborne's advice, to take the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina, of which he drinks
about one third of a pint twice a day : he
takes it with a little hot milk, .and it agrees
perfectly with his flomach. His hours of
taking, are about two in the afternoon, and
about fix in the evening. It tends to keep
the body regular as to ftools, but has no far-
ther purgative effe&s. It has fliewn no ftl-
mulating effects upon the urinary paffages,
as his wants in that refpect are much lefs fre-
quent than formerly. In five days time, af-
ter he firft took it, his urine began to grow
clear, and void of mucus or fee tor, and to
be eafily retained. He can now keep it three
or four hours, and paffes it, though not with-
out pain, with much lefs than he formerly
did. It is of a moderately pale amber-colour,
void of fmell, and will keep twenty-four
hours, and probably would much longer,
without fuffering any change, and leaves no
fur on the chamber-pot. His health and ap-
E 3 petite
54 0N THE EFFICACY OF THE
petite are much better fince he took this re-
medy, and his ftrength and ability to walk
much improved. His regimen of life has
been fifh or plain meat, with half a pint of
red port wine, or perhaps more, and it has
agreed well with him. He has taken fruit
at times, but thought it difagreed with him.
The above account was taken down from
Colonel Gould's own mouth in the month
of January 1786. But although the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water gave great relief from
pain by abating the acrimony of the urine;
yet it appeared that the bladder and urinary
paffages, and indeed the conflitution itfelf,
were fo injured and weakened by fo many
repeated attacks in a long courfe of years, as
to be irremediable. He died of an internal
mortification at the latter end of 1786.
CASE IX,
Mr. Francis Loftus, of Market- Weighton,
in Yorkshire, a perfon of fixty-feven years of
age, and good conflitution and general flate
of health, except with regard to this partU
cular complaint, had been twice cut for the
ftonc, the laft of which operations was per-
formed
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. $$
formed fomewhat more than eight years pre-
vious to the writing of his firft letter to Ben-
jamin Col borne, Efq. which bears date Jan.
27, 1786. He there mentions that he is fa-
tisfied that another is formed in his bladder ;
and though he does not there mention the
fymptoms that induced him to be of that
opinion, it may reafonably be prefumed that
he muft, from fad experience, be fufficiently
qualified to decide upon fuch a queftion.
Having feen in one of the monthly publi-
cations an account of the fuccefs of the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina, he made trial of it accord-
ing to the receipt there put down, which by
miftake directed two ounces of fait of tartar
inftead of one, to be difTolved in two quarts
of water. This he tried for near fix weeks to
a pint and half daily, but without any abate-
ment of his iymptoms, lave that his water,
which was before turbid, and depofited a fe-
diment that adhered to the vefiel, became al-
mod clear.
Mr. Colborne, however, having informed
him of the miftake in the printing the re-
ceipt, and advifed him to make trial of a fo-
lution of half the ftrength only, he in his
next letter, dated March 7, 1786, gives a
E 4 more
56 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
more favourable account. His pain in pac-
ing his water was abated, and he was able
to retain it longer. He adds in this letter,
that the flone was an hereditary complaint in
his family, that his father had it, but did not
live to be cut. His next letter, dated June 7,
1786, contains little more than an account of
his /arther amendment in general terms, and
a confirmation from examination of his having
a calculus formed in his bladder. His urine,
he adds, is flili rather foetid. His next let-
ter, dated July 25, 1786, gives a much more
favourable account. He there defcribes his
pains as having fubfided, his urine having
loft its fcetor, and his health being perfectly
reftored. He adds, that he could then walk
three or four miles witb a great deal of eafe.
He h;d alfo left off his opiate, as being unne-
ceffary. The Mephitic Alkaline Liquor, he
fays, ntver purged him, but kept his body
moderately open.
His next letter, dated October 6, 1786,
confirms the opinion of the efficacy of the
medicine. He there fays that his health is
ftrong and good, and fuperior to what could
be expected at his time of life, and that he
had jufl walked four miles without the ^afl:
inconve-
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, 57
inconvenience. A fubiequent letter, dated
January 9, 1787, is to the fame purpofe.
He exprefTes himfelf as being " in great good
health and fpirits, and furprifingly ftrong,
quite free from pain, and able to walk three
or four miles with pleafure." He adds, that
he now takes the water only twice a day, and
finds that to anfwer his purpofe perfectly
well.
In a Letter to Mr. Colborne, dated Decem-
ber 6, 1788, Mr. Loftus exprejjes himfelf
in the following manner :
" I have never neglected taking the Alkaline
Water one day fine e you heard from me, but
have diminifhed the dofe to half a pint taken
once a day. Ton will fay then lam ftrong;
and fo I am, as I can walk four or five miles
a day with pleafure, and cm alfo ride on horfe-
back. I never fee any fragments in the pot;
but fomething like /mall rags, and a red Jloarp
f and flicks to the bottom and fides. I am won-
derfully ftrong, and in good health, and am
feldom troubled with any pain"
It appears, by a letter from Mr. Loftus to
Mr. Coilorne, dated May \y, 1789, that his
complaints
5S ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
complaints had returned, and that he was
founded nine or ten times at York by a gentle-
man of eminence in the profcjjion, but that m
calculus could be difcovered. It was, however,
conjectured that he had an ulcer in the bladder,
from the white fediment i?i his urine. In a fe-
cond letter, dated June 8, 1789, he fays, the
white fediment in his urine is diminifhed, but
that he is no eajier : fnce that time I have
heard no account. It is no wife remarkable that
an ulcer of the bladder foould happen after the
operation of lithotomy being twice performed \
CASE X.
William Mel moth, Efq. a gentleman now
at an advanced period of life, was, many
years ago, fubjedt to violent pains in the back
on much walking, which he attributed to
weaknefs induced by profufe difcharges of
blood by the bleeding piles ; a complaint
under which he had laboured feveral years.
During the time of his being fubjedt to the
above-mentioned diforder, he once or twice,
after exercife on horfeback, made fome coffee-
coloured urine. About fixteen years ago, he
had an attack of a gravelly complaint, accom-
panied with calculous difcharges. This re-
curred
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 59
currcd at longer or fhorter intervals, and at*
tended with mbre or lefs pain, until a period
of about 15 months preceding the prefent
time, when he firft had recourfe to the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water. Of this he took about
half a pint daily, of the ftrength mentioned
in the former part of this work, and perfe-
vered in this courfe for about a month or fix
weeks. During this fpace he always dif-
charged with his urine pretty large and nume-
rous particles of coagulated blood, but with-
out any pain. This appearance caufed him
to fufpect that the medicine operated upon
the urinary pafTages with too great violence.
On this prefumption he gradually reduced the
ftrength of the folution, and at laft found that
three drachms of fait of tartar, diflblved in two
quarts of water, was the proportion that
agreed beft with him. Specks of blood are
fcarcely now ever to be fcen in his urine. Of
the preparation above mentioned he takes,
and has for fome months taken, about half
a pint daily, and often a lefs quantity.
Mr. Melmoth's health is much better now
than it had been for feveral years previous to
his trial of the above-mentioned remedy, and
his ftrength much reftored. He is alfo at
jprefent able to walk about the town without
exciting
6o ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
exciting any gravelly fymptoms, which for-
merly were excited by very flight motion, in-
fomuch that he could fcarcely flir out of
doors without ufing a fedan chair, which is
now no longer neceflary on that account.
- Mr. Melmoth has always taken, as well
during the ufe of the Mephitic Alkaline Wa-
ter as before, a moderate proportion of vege-
tables, and fuch other acid fubftances as are
ufually eaten with animal food, and has ufed
for drink at meals two or three glaffes of
wine, and now and then a little ale or porter.
He has never found the Mephitic Alkaline
Water to difagree with his ftomach in any
refpedt. In very cold weather he iometimes
puts into his cup a fingle tea-fpoonful of
brandy.
December 14, 1788.
I this day received an account from Mr.
Melmoth, in anfwer to an inquiry after his
fate of health, in which he fays, " that it
continues in the fame good fate it was when be
gave the account inferted in the former edition ;
that he has continued to ufe the Mephitic Water
-prepared in the fame manner, and taken in the
fame f mall quantities as before defcribed; and
that,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 6t
ihat,fmce hefrft had recourfc to it, he has never
felt the flight eft return of his complaint."
December 3, 179 1.
I am informed by Mr. Colborne, that Mr.
Melmoth mitinues perfectly free from any com-
plaint of the urinary pa (J ages, and in a good fl ate
of health in other refpecls, not with/landing his
having omitted the life of the Alkaline Water
for fix or feven months together.
CASE XI.
Mr. "Patrick Weftoby, of Gainfborough,
in Lincolnfhire, a perfon now advanced in
years, was, one day in the fummer of 1776,
feized with a fudden ftoppage of urine, whilft
he was paffing his water freely. This con-
tinued a few minutes, and was not attended
with much pain. To relieve this he took, as
foon as it could be got, an infulion of Bur-
dock, with the addition of fome milk, and a
little honey, which paffed off freely in the
night following by urine, and brought with
it a fmall round calculus, flat on one fide, and
with a little rifing on the other, and about
1 -5th of an inch diameter. He then con-
tinued
62 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
tinued free from any complaint of this kind
about a year, after which interval he was again
attacked with frequent urgings to make water,
which he pafled in fmall quantities at a time,
and with fome, though but little pain. For
thefe complaints he had recourfe again to the
infufion of Burdock root, but did not find the
fame eafe from it as before. That year and
the following he took a confiderable quantity
of Adams's Solvent, but did not experience any
relief from it. For the two or three years
next fucceeding, he ufually had, in each, two
or three attacks ; but they were moderate, and
relieved by gentle diruretics with the addition
of opiates. During the two years immediately
preceding his laft attack, his paroxyfms were
lefs frequent, but more urgent, and attended
with more bloody water, and more frequent
excitings to pafs his water, and greater pain in
the urinary paffages, which continued to be
very troublefome for fome nights, but went
off in the fpace of two or three weeks. On
the 3d of Febuary 1785, when the froft was
very intenfe, he had a fmart attack, attended
with many urgings to make water, which he
did about thirty times in the courfe of the
night, and paffed his urine tinged with blood.
In a few days however thefe fymptoms abated,
and
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 63
and his urine flowed freely and plentifully,
and became, of a good colour, and pa fled with-
out pain. During the time he was in bed he
was fubjed: to a flow of pale clear water,
which caufed fuch quick returns of inclina-
tion to pafs it, as interrupted his fleep very
much. The bark in infufion, and opiates, re-
moved this fymptom, and in about a month
all his complaints ceafed.
In the month of Auguft following he had
another attack, which continue-d about three
weeks, and another towrards the latter end of
the month of October, which continued, with
two intervals of 12 days each, to the 18th
of January 1786. The weather was then very
fevere,and his diforder never more troublefome;
his urine bloody, with frequent urgings to pafs
it, pain and irritation in the urinary paflages,
and no fleep but with opiates. He began that
day, about noon, to take the mephitic alkaline
folution, and continued to take it regularly,
according to the directions in the Appendix to
Dr. Dobfon's work, for four five days, but
without any perceptible alteration in his
fymptoms, except that his urine became a
little clearer. On Sunday, January 22, he
pafled the day and nignt in great pain > but
on
64 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
on the Monday and Tuefday after, he obferved
a brown powder at the bottom of his chamber-
pot, in quantity nearly fufficient to cover a
milling, which, he thought, proceeded from
the diffolution of a calculus. He then be-
came fomewhat eafier, but remarked, during
two or three of the evenings preceding, that
he felt fome pain in the back, os pubis, and
thighs, a little below the hips, all of which
were new fymptoms. From Wednefday
morning his fymptoms began to decline ; his
water paffing freely, and being of a good
colour, his irritations of thepaffages abating,
and his urgings to pafs it returning lefs fre-
quently. During this time he obferved in
his urine what he took to be fragments of a
calculus. Before he took the mephitic alka-
line folution, he took a diuretic pill of oil of
juniper, gum arabic, anduva urli, during the
ufe of which his urine was red, thick, and
tuabid, and depofited a fediment that adhered
clofely to the pot. His diforder continued
to abate until February 7, 1786, when he
had another attack, attended with pain and
fome bloody urine, which lafted a few days.
His urine after this attack became again pale
and clear ; but neverthelefs was voided in
fmall quantities, and attended with fome pain.
He
AQiUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 6j
He then, by Mr. Colborne's advice, dimi-
hiftied the quantity of the foiation that he
took daily, and added a few drops of laudanum
to each dofe; which abated his fenfations of
irritation in the paflages, and his urine foon
became clear, and void of mucus or blood, was
I'oided without pain, and eafily retained. In
June 1786, he was fo far recovered as to be
able to walk three miles a day without pain,
feeling nothing more than a flight obtufe kn-'
'fation at the time his laft drop of urine came
away. His urine depofited, on ftanding, a
considerable quantity of a white adhefive fedi-
ment, and fometimes fmall bits like broken
{hells. From this time to April 1787, he
went on taking the Mephitic Alkaline iolu-
tion in about two- thirds or one-half of the
dofe direcled in the Appendix, and has felt no
return of his complaint, except once, which
he afcribed to the breaking of the machine,
which prevented his taking his remedy for
about feven weeks, after which he had a mo-
derate fit, attended with frequent excitements
to pafs urine, but not much pain. The Mephi-
tic Alkaline Water being again procured, aba-
ted thefe fymptoms, and carried them all off in
about a fortnight. Atprefent, April 4, 1787,
F he
66 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
he is free of all pain and irritation, or other
fymptoms of calculus.
CASE XII.
A fervant of Charles Sheppard, Efq. of
Caille Godwin, near Painfwick, Gloucefter-
mire, was, about the month of October 1785,
taken with a fuppreiiion of urine, and obliged
to have recourfe to a catheter, in the palling
of which a ftone was difcovered in his bladder.
This neceffity recurred two or three times
during the winter ; and the poor man, in con-
fequence of this complaint, was rendered in-
capable of labour, and even unable to walk a
very few yards without making bloody urine.
He had alfo a ccnftant difcharge of mucus by
the urinary paffages. In May 1786, he began
to take the Mephitic Alkaline Water; and be-
fore he had taking it a fortnight, he found
relief, and in about fix weeks could wTalk or
ride on horfeback without any difcharge of
blood, and the mucus difcharge was much
lelTened. During the courfe of lafl winter he
had one or two attacks, which were appre-
hended to proceed from his drinking cyder ;
dale of health is now eafv and comfortable -y
he
AQUA MEPHITTCA ALKALINA. 6j
he has walked ten miles, and rode eighteen
with much eafe; can work whole days in the
garden, but is cautious of any violent exertion,
as he fometimes feels the ftone as a weight,
and has frequent calls to make water, and
fometimes has a mucus fediment in his urine.
Taken from a letter of Charles Sheppard, Efq.
dated Cafile Godwin, April 1 1, 1787.
CASE XIII.
The Rev. Arthur Evans, about 50 years of
age, and of a fcorbutic habit of body, has
been for fome years afflicted with frequent ne-
phritic complaints. In November 1785, he
was feized, in a moil: violent manner, with
repeated vomitings and pains in the kidneys.
In December following he came to Bath; and
having the pleafure of Mr. B. Colborne's ac-
quaintance, he confulted him, who kindly gave
his advice, and recommended the immediate
ufe of the Mephitic Alkaline Water, adviling
three or fpoonfuls of boiling milk to be mixed
in the water till the ftone had palled ; half
a pint was drunk every day, according to
this direction. In a week from the firft
drinking, an oblong ftone of the fize of a
F z fmall
68 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
fmall kidney bean was pafled with little pain ;
it was three weeks and five days from the firft
feizure to the paffing of the ftone. Mr. Evans
perfevered in taking the fame quantity of Me-
phitic Water daily (without milk) till June
1 786, when he left Bath, and foon had the
misfortune to break his machine, which de-
prived him of the Mephitic Water full three
weeks ; the confequence was, that towards
the latter end of Auguft he had a return of his
nephritic complaint, but no vomiting: in a
few days afterwards he voided a few calculi ;
wThen thefe had palled, he foon became eafy,
and remained perfectly free from that complaint
till February laft, when he was fuddenly feized
with frequent vomitings and pains in the kid-
neys : thefe nephritic fymptoms came on in the
evening, and early in the fubfequent morning
a fmall ftone was pafled, which Mr. Colborne,
on examining, thought was rather a fragment
of an old one than a new concretion ; as Mr,
Evans had not omitted drinking daily half a
pint of Mepihtic Water from Auguft to Fe-
bruary laft, from which laft period Mr. E. has
had no complaint of a nephritic nature. — The
foregoing account is given in Mr. Evans's
own words. .
Bath, April 23, 1787.
Mr.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 69
Mr* Evans Is Jince dead-, but the diforder
which carried him off, had, I am informed, 720
connexion with any complaint of the urinaij
t>aJJ'ages%
CASE XIV.
The following Cafe is that of M. S. Bran-
thwayt, Efq. of Taverham near Norwich,
as related by himfelf.
" In June 1785, I was feized with a flight
fit of the gout; and during the time the gout
was upon me, I felt a violent pain quite round
my body, but more particularly in my right
kidney, attended with a frequent inclination
to make water, which palled from me very
flowly, and with much pain. At this time
Mr. B. Colborne, of Bath, came to vifit me,
and upon infpeding my chamber-pot, found
that my water was coffee-coloured, and, from
my defcription of the fymptoms I had felt,
fuggefted to me that I had the ftone. For-
tunately Mr. Benj, Colborne had a fmall tra-
velling apparatus with him to make the Aqua
JVIephitica Alkalina : he made me fome, and
F 3 after.
70 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
after I had taken 4 or 5 dofes, my urine:
palled more freely, and with lefs irritation,
and became perfectly clear. When he left
ine, I was without the Aqua Mephitica Al-
kalina three weeks, in which time I voided
a fmall ftone, and fome red gravel, and my
urine became turbid, and gave me infinite
pain in paffing. In the fpace of two or three
days after, I began again to take the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina ; my water became clear,
and palled without irritation, and I continued
entirely free from all fymptoms of the gravel,
and was in better health than I had been for
Some time before. Indeed, feeling fo per-
fectly well, I left off the water for 5 or 6
months, when I wras again attacked with a
violent pain in my right kidney, attended with
fever and ficknefs, which lafted two or three
days ; but not fufpecting it was the ftone, and
finding myfelf very well again, I did not take
the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina till after I was
a fecund time attacked in the fame way, but
more violently. I then took the water again,
and was perfectly well till September 1786,
when I voided a ftone about the lize of a
vetch ; and fince that time I have never left
off the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina, nor have I
had
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. Jl
had any fymptoms of the gravel or pain in
my kidney.
Taverham, near ft/J. S. BrANTHWAYT.
Norwich.
'• Finding (o much benefit from the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina, I recommended it to a
poor woman in my parifh (by name Kidd),
who has been afflidted with the ftone and
gravel at different times between 20 and 30
years, during which time fhe has voided many
fmall ftones. This poor woman being al-
ways an invalid, palling by her door, I called
to afk her how fhe did, and found her very
ill with a nephritic complaint. I made her
fome Mephitic Alkaline Water, and after
taking a few dofes fhe was much relieved, and
continued mending for three weeks, when
fhe voided two ftones, one near an inch long,
the other about the fize of a pea, weighing
together 24 grains. She continued drinking
the water fome time after, during which time
fhe had no return of her gravelly complaints,
and thought herfelf in better health than fhe
had been in for many years. I tried to per-
fuade her to continue the Aqua Mephitica
Alkalina ; but flic faid fhe had no fymptoms
F4 &
72 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
of gravel, and was very well; therefore I
could not fucceed.
M. S. B."
'Extract of a Letter from M. S. Branthwayt,
Efq. dated December 14, 1788, from Ta~
verham, near Norwich, to Benjamin Col-
borne, Efq,
<c In anjwer to your letter rcf petting the
Mephitic Watery I mujl i'aform you, that I
have very conjlantly drank a large glafs every
morning, when at home, before breakfafi. I
have been perfectly well in health except gout,
and have not had the leaf return w bat ever of
my gravelly complaints"
December 5, 1791,
1 was this day informed by Mr. Colborne
that he had received a letter from Mr. Bran-
thwayt, dated November 30, 1791, in which
he fays, that he has not taken any of the Alka-
line Water for ten months, and has not felt
any Jy - °f grav"l. He has, however,
had a fit of the gout more violent than he had
before experienced.
CASF
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 73
CASE XV-
Adrian Abbot, cabinet-maker, being in
London in the year 1775, and employed in
his bufinefs, whilft he was carrying a coffin,
it being high above his head, it (truck againft
a building, and (trained him in the fmall of
his back. Three days after this accident he
paiTed a confiderabie quantity of blood as he
went to make water. From that time to the
year 1783 he had frequent inclinations to
pafs his water, and a conftant pain in the
fmall of the back, and frequently a mucous
difcharge of a light yellowifli colour, if he
exerted his ftrength to any confiderabie de-
gree. Some time afterwards he was feized
with a total ftoppage of his urine, for which
he was bled by the advice of a iurgeon, and
took medicines, and in about a week his urine
pafied eafily. About fix months afterwards
he had another attack of the fame kind,
which, when it abated, was attended with
a large difcharge of blood, which became from
that time a frequent fymptom. At this time
it was the opinion of two furgeons who at-
tended him, that he had a (tone in his blad-
der.
74 0N THE EFFICACY OF THE
der. He continued in this ftate, with great
pain in his back, and frequent inclinations to
pafs his urine, until December 14, 1786,
when, being worfe, he applied to a furgeon,
who directed him fome medicines, but with-
out fuccefs. He then applied to another gen-
tleman of the profeflion, who adviled him to
fubmit to be cut. His urine at this time was
foul and turbid, and changed the vegetable
blues to a red colour.
On the 27th of January he was directed
to Mr. Benjamin Colborne, who gave him
fome of the Mephitic Alkaline Water, with
directions how to take it. His urine foon
became clear and tranfparent, and he could
retain it a long time, and for many nights had
occafion to make water once only. The pain
in his back ceafed, and at prefent (April 20)
he has no complaint of any kind.
This per/on is, fmce the publication of the
above cafe, removed from Bath to Erifol ; but
Mr. Colbome has very lately received infonna-
tiony that he is quite welly and has had no re-
turn of his complaint y but fill continues taking
the Mephitic Alkaline Water*
CASE
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. J$
CASE XVI.
A tradefman of this city, of the name of
Ralph, had for many years been troubled
with a ftridture, occafionaliy, of the urethra,
which caufed frequent obftrudtions to the
paffage of his urine, for which he was obliged
to ufe bougies, which gave him great pain
without^producing any permanent relief. Du-
ring the fpring of the year 1785, his com-
plaints returned fo frequently, and with fuch
violence, that it was not practicable to pafs a
bougie. In this melancholy condition no-
thing but opiates afforded him any relief,
which were obliged to be large in quantity,
and frequently repeated. In the month of
May in the fame year, he had an abfcefs in
perinaeo formed, which difcharged a large
quantity of matter, and healed in about a
month's time. His difficulty however of
pafling his water continued, and his urine was
loaded with mucus. Nearly in this ftate he
continued until the eleventh of December
1786, when he began to take the Mephitic
Alkaline Water.
At
76 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
At that time his urine came from him drop
by drop, and was fo overcharged with mucus
that it adhered to the pot in fuch a manner,
as not to fall out when the veffel was turned
with its mouth upwards. Its fmell was alio
fo rank and fcetid, as fcarcely to be borne, and
was fo alkaline with the putrefaction, as to
ferment with oil of vitriol, and to change
paper rtained with juice of turnfole to a blue
colour. His pain was likewife fo great as to
oblige him to take opiate pills every three
or four hours. He began the ufe of the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water by taking it with milk
as before directed, and with fomb drops of
laudanum in each dofe. He took it every
eight hours, and in the fpace of twenty-four
hours he palled his water much eafier, and his
irritations were lefs frequent and violent, and
his urine came away in larger quantities at a
time. By continuing his medicine he was
able, in three or four days time, to take it
without the laudanum, and to go about his
bufinefs, which is that of a fhoemaker, and
to work at it much better than he had been
able to do for feveral years. Since the above-
mentioned time, he has had little or no return
of his complaints, and is in every refpedt
better in health than he has been for the laft
feven
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. jj
feven years. Before he took the Alkaline
Mephitic Water, he was not able, even
when he thought himfelf tolerably well, to
work at his bufinels for two days together.
Although this man has taken the Alkaline
Mephitic Water for four months, it feemed
to have very little effedt on a fragment of the
fame calculus, mentioned in the experiments
before related to be made with urine. Yet it
appeared to be of an alkaline nature, by its
changing paper (tained with juice of turnfole
to a blue colour.
Mr. Ralph continues perfectly well, but JIM
ijis the Mephitic Alkaline Water, which is
now become very agreeable to his palate. He
grows fat under the ufe of it, and his com-
plexion becomes fiorid.
December I, 1791.
Mr. Ralph is now quite welly and has not
taken any of the Alkaline Water for the fpace
of ten or twelve months*
CASE
*?8 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE XVII.
Telling, a glazier of this city, had
been for two or three years fubjedt to ftriftures
of the urethra, which produced frequent fup-
preffions of urine. About ten months ago
from the prefent time, May i, 1787, he was
taken ill in the laft-mentioned way, and con-
tinued without paffing any water for two days,
in which he fullered the moil excruciating
pain. A bougie was paffed, which produced
a difcharge of urine for the time. He had
frequent returns of pain of this kind, but not
fo violent, and was never eafy two days to-
gether. When he went to make water he had
in general a tenefmus, and in the morning his
urethra ufed to be greatly clogged by vifcid
mucus, which delayed his urine paffing, and
frequently produced a temporary ftoppagei
His urine was foul in appearance, and of a
wheyifh colour, with gravel in it, and made
in fmall quantities.
After taking the Alkaline Mephitic Water
for three or four days, his urine began to pafs
more freely and eafily, and his complaints
mended
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, J9
mended daily. He has now taken the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water for two months, has
no tenefmus on paffing his water, can retain
it well, and pais it in large quantity, and the
mucus is but little, and that of a thin con-
fidence compared to what he formerly voided.
He eats, drinks, and fleeps well ; is able to
labour in his bufinefs, and is upon the whole
in better health than he has been for feveral
years.
This per/on continues perfectly well, although
he has left off taking the Mephitic Alkali?ie
Water.
December i, 1 791.
This per/on continues quite well, and has left
off' taking the Alkaline Water near two years*
CASE XVIII.
The Reverend Henry Wilfon, Vicar of He-
verfham, near Kendal in Weftmoreland, aged
69 years, had been for fome time afflicted,
principally at intervals, with a complaint of
the urinary paffages. This was much aggra-
vated by wet or cold, and even by moderate
exercife
So ON THE EFFICACY OF TfcE
fcxercife or motion. He could not walk a
quarter of a mile without pafling coffee-co-
loured water, and frequently little beiides
blood. This was accompanied fometimes with
great pain, and always with much uneafinefs.
His water encrufted the chamber-pot, and de-
posited befides a quantity of loofe red fand.
Sometimes filaments refembling bits of ikin^
might be ieen floating in it. His appetite wa3
but n. different. In this ftate he began, on the
10th of May, 1788, to drink the Mephitic
Alkalirie Water* Of this he took at firft a
pint and half daily, divided into three dofes ;
one of which he took an hour before break-
faft, a fecondat eleven o'clock in the forenoon*
and a third at fix in the evening. This he
foon afterwards reduced to a pint daily, taken
in divided dofes at the periods above men-
tioned. He took it at firft with hot milk, as
directed in this work : this he changed for
raifon wine, and this again for ginger wine,
but again returned to milk. He purfued this
courfe for three months, with fome, though no
great alleviation of his fvmptoms. His appe-
tite was amended, and his urine left no cruft
on the chamber-pot. The above was the ftate
of this gentleman's health, as defcribed by
htm
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 8l
him in a letter I received from him in the be-
ginning of September laft. His laft account,
however, is much more fatisfactory.
In a letter dated November 7th, 1788, he
fays, " Every diiagreeable circumftance at-
tendant on my complaint, has now left me.
I find my appetite greatly improved, my health
extremely good. I am as equal to any exer-
cife of walking, &c. as I have been for feveral
years, though entered upon my 70th year.
ic Cold and wet were ever inimical to my
diforder ; Sunday duty, therefore, or a funeral,
or being a few minutes in a fliowe!, brought
on my complaint, which confinued trouble-
fome for three or four days before it left ine :
but j feel no inconvenience at prefent by be-
ing confined in my church for more than an
hour- and half at once ; nor in being expofed
to a ftorm of wind and rain for the fame fpace
of time.
" I mud own it requires a ftrong resolu-
tion, .and no little faith in the efficacy or his
medicine, to continue the ufe of it long to-
gether; and I drank it for more than thi ^e
months, before I perceived any benefit from
G it;
82 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
it; but it was extremely cold to my ftomach
mofl of this time, and difagreeable ; nor would
I attempt to warm it with brandy, or any
fpirits, all the while. However, the Bifliop of
Llandaff, and yourfelf, bad me perfevere. I
did perfevere, and am it this time enjoying the
fruits of this obedience ; and I could not ex-
cufe myfeif, did not I here offer you my fin-
cerefl thanks for the bleffing of the freedom
from pain, &c. which I now enjoy."
Extract from a Letter, dated December 2
1788.
4>
f I have for fome time paft been return-
ing vifits on foot, at the diftance of two or
three miles, and twice or thrice a week. On
Friday fe'nnight I was celebrating the birth-
day of a lady in this neighbourhood, from
whence I returned about three o'clock in the
morning of Saturday, without being in the
leaft difordered with fitting up, or my morn-
ing walk,
*\ I can with the greateft truth and plea-
fure affiire you, that my health and appetite
are both of them now, and have been for
fome months paft, remarkably good; for
which,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 83
which, under God, I think myfelf indebted
to the Mephitic Alkaline Water.
Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Henry
Wilfon, dated October 22, 1791*
u With the great eft truth and pleafure, dear
Sir, I now affiire you, that, fmce my laft to
you, near three years ago, I have, thank God,
remained entirely free from calculous coniplamts,
my health perfectly good- — cruda mihi viri-
difque fenedta. Tet 1 have continued the ufe
of the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina regularly, about
half a pint at eleven 0 clock in the morning every
day. However, about a year ago, I was pre-
vailed upon to omit for a month the ufe of the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water-, butlfuffered, alas, for my
credulity ! All my former complaints returned,
feemingly with redoubled pain ; yet, by refuming
immediately the ufe of the water, I was quite
free from all my complaints in two or three
days. At this time I paffed a ft one of the fize
of a common apple -pippin, and of a light brick
colour ; it had lain in the pot fome hours, and
had loft part of its weight and fize. If you,
Sir, can ?nake the above of ufe in this your fourth
edition, it is very much at your fervice"
G z CASE
S4 0N THE EFFICACY OF Tfft
CASE XIX.
" The Rev. Robert Burton, of Oaking-
ham in Berkshire, aged 67 years, of a robuft
habit, and temperate in his way of living,
though fubjefl: to the gout, had been ufed to
pafs red gravel in his urine; and fometimes
fmall calculi, about the fize of a large pir?3
head. About eight years ago, he had a vio-
lent attack of the bleeding piles, to which he
had been before fubjecl:. About this time
his water often came away refembling coffee-
grounds, and, if he took any exercife, ap-
peared to be no other than pure blood, but
without much pain. Thefe bleedings, how-
ever, were moderated by a courfe of the bark.
He had in the beginning of Auguft (1788)
a fit of the gout, which he had not had to
any great degree for ten years before.
€€ After this, his pains in making water
were very great ; the calls frequent, and the
quantity fmall, attended with fhiverings, and
an exceedingly troublefome irritation back-
wards, except when he was lying down in
bed. At this time he was fuppofed to have
a flone
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 85
a flone in his bladder, and was founded, but
no calculus was difcovered. He palled every
morning a large quantity of vifcid mucus, of
a dark colour, and fometimes mixed with a
little grumous blood, but not more foetid than
common urine. The acid and alkaline
draughts (as recommended by Dr. Hulme)
were then tried $ but as no effect was obferved
from their ufe in the fpace of three weeks,
they were laid afide, and lime-water made
from oyfter-ihells fubftituted in their room*
The patient, however, growing worfe, the
lime-water was left off, and an infufion of the
red bark advifed and perfhled in until a fevers
flux obliged him to lay afide all medicines
except aftringents and opiates. When this
ceafed, he returned again to the bark, which
he took thrice a day, with five drops of lau^
.danum in the laft dofe. He had, at this
time, a continual thirft, though no fever,
and almoft every other fymptom incident to
fuch complaints, to a very diftreiiing degree/'
The above ftate of the cafe was fent to me,
dated September 23, 1788, defiring my opi-
nion. I advifed a continuation of the ufe of
the bark in fmaller quantity, and to try the
alkaline water with hot milk, as directed
G 3 above,
86 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
above, to the quantity of half a pint daily,
taken at two dofes, and with a few drops of
laudanum, and a little manna to be occasion-
ally taken if coftive.
In a Letter, dated the 2 2d of November
(1788), I received an account of the effe&s
of the remedy as follows :
" Of three dozen of Killick's half pints, I
have taken twenty-one in hot milk, with
laudanum, as well as the red bark, as di-
rected ; only the laft proving too aftringent,
and the means to counteract it throwing me
into the contrary extreme, I left it off.
Whilft coftive, I had feveral bloody ftools,
though no bloody urine as ufual with me in
that ftate ; and to be lax, is always diftreffing,
and heightens my fufferings : fo I now take
the medicated water only.
" As to my prefent ftate, my appetite is
good, and my flcep comfortable, and as found
as may be with fo many interruptions from
urinary calls, which, though much lefs fre-
quent than they were a fortnight ago, are
frequent enough to require the urinal in bed ;
the ufe of which obliges me to lie nearly on
my
AQTJA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 8/
my back. In this pofture, my water paffes
fo eafily, that, on waking, I often find the
veffel quite full. At other times, the paf-
fage of my urine requires efforts, but now
feldom occafions any troublefome irritations
backwards. For about a week part I have
moderately fucceeded in keeping my body
regular ; my urinary calls have not been near
fo frequent as formerly ; and there has been
fome diminution in the quantity of mucus,
though enough of it yet paffes every night to
fhew that the caufe of the complaint flili
exifts. Whatever this is, it feems to be
feated about the neck of my bladder -, for
there the feeling is at one time like what one
would expedt from a fore expofed to the paff-
ing urine ; and at another, a kind of itching
like that of a healing wound. I have watched
attentively to find fome fragments or gravel,
but in vain. My general health is far better
than it was three weeks ago, though the
gout or rheumatifm, for it is not yet fwelled,
has fallen upon my knee. Such is my pre-
fent ftate."
I have fince received another Letter from
Mr. Burton, dated December 15, 1788, in
which he fays, that about a fortnight after
G 4 he
S& ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
he wrote the letter of November 2^d, he
parted a thin gritty fubftance, of the fize
of a filver penny, which he thinks to be
a fragment of a calculus. At prefent (De-
cember 15, lyhi), he fays, that his urine is
very clear, and that he retains it fuiiiciently
to make the intervals between his calls about
an hour and three quarters in length : his
fleep k comfortable; his appetite and di-
gestion good ; and his health in general (as
he thinks) in a fair way of being re-efta-
Dliihcd • and hinaftlf reftored, as he exprefles
liimlelf, to a capacity of enjoying a good fhare
of the comforts of life.
CASE XX.
James Clayton, Efq. of Cavendifh Square,
London; was firft attacked with the gravel
about the latter end of the year 1785, and
had fits of it once or twice a week, attended
with great and frequent irritations of the
urinary paffages, and often brought away
fmall Hones about the fize of pins heads, and
fonie much larger; of different fhapes and
colours; f( me of them being yellowifh, and
others white; all which were attended with
great pain when they came away. He tried
many medicines for the above complaint, but
without
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 89
without much effect. He drank marm-rnaU
low tea with the feeds of the wild carrot, and
barley water with gum arabic, but without
benefit.
On the 30th of July, in the year 1787, he
began to drink the Mephitic Alkaline Water,
of which he took {tv^n ounces daily. In the
firft three months after he began to take it, he
had but fix or fevQii attacks, which was not
above half the number he had before in the
fame fpace of time. About the middle of
October 1787, he had feveral attacks in the
fpace of two days ; and in one of thefe, which
was very fevere, he voided five or fix calculi at
once ; and in the fpace of fix hours, feven or
eight more; fome of them as large as, and
refembling in fhape, half cherry-ftones, and
others rough and triangular ; but moft of them
concave or convex, as if they came from a
ftone as large as a fmall walnut. During his
pain, he was frequently obliged to have re-
courfe to emollient clyfters, and fometimes to
laudanum, which he took from 3© to 60 drops
when in extreme pain; but was deiirous to
avoid it, as it injured his appetite, which, if
the laudanum was not taken, appeared to be
amended by the Mephitic Alkaline Water,
which
go Otf TltE EFFICACY OF Tftfc
which agreed alfo well with his health in
every refpedt. In the beginning of November
1787, he difcharged feven more calculi, larger
than any he had brought away before, and of
a whitifh colour, and convex and concave in
their fhape, and as large as cherry- flories.
Thefe, as might be expelled, produced great
torture in their paffage, and great forenefs of
the parts for fome time after, rnd a fenfation.
of weight at the neck of the bladder. One
day towards the middle of the month (Novem-
ber 1787), he was feized with great pain in
the right kidney ; and in an hour or two found
a calculus coming forwards, which about
three in the morning came away, and proved
to be the largeft he had ever paffed. In half
an hour's time after the firft came away, he
pafied {even others of a fmaller fize. Thefe
were followed with fuch pain in making wa-
ter as was even greater than when the flones
were paffing. His urine was cloudy and mu-
cous, and depofited a red fediment on the pots :
about this time lie was accuftomed to ufe oc-
cofionally a warm bath, and a fomentation of
camomile flowers in a flannel bag, which gave
temporary eafe. Before he took the Mephitic
Alkaline Water, the ftones he patted were
yellowifli and hard; but lince he drank it,
they
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALItfA. Qf
they have become fmaller in fize, white, and
crumble on preffure between the fingers. In
January 1788, he panned two fmooth ftones,
one as large as a vetch, and the other the fize
of a barley-corn, without much pain. Since
January 8th, 1788, to this prefent time (De-
cember 2d, 1788), he has not had above twice
a little irritation in palling his water, which
did not laft an hour each timej and fince
February laft, has been perfectly well. He is
now able to travel in his chariot for twenty
miles together without pain, and to walk a
mile and half; whereas, before he took the
Mephitic Alkaline Water, he could not walk
acrofs the room. He has taken the quantity
of half a pint daily, with about half a tea-cup
of warm milk in each half pint of the Water,
fince January laft (1788). %
The above account is literally true.
Ca DS^SSr' JAMES CLAYTON,
December \Jl9 1791.
Mr. Clayton isjince dead, but of a different
complaint from that which was thefubjeff of the
foregoing Letter,
CASE
92 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE XXI.
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel
Williamfon, of the Royal Regiment of Ar-
tillery, to a friend, on the fubjecl of the Stone
and Gravel, with which he was afflicted,
and the furprjfing benefits derived from the
ufe of the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina.
Shooters Hill, Gel. 15, 1788.
" Dear Sir,
<c It is with great readinefs that I fit down
to give you an account of my complaint (the
ftone and gravel), as alio the important fer-
vices which I have received from the ufe of
the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina.
" In the latter end of the year 1781, when
at Barbadoes, I was feized with a violent {Iran-
gury, and pain in my kidneys, which confined
me to my bed near a week : fomentations, and
warm-bathing, afforded me temporary relief j
but from that period I was fcarcely a fortnight
together free from pain. In July, 1782, I
had another mod violent attack, attended with
an
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 93
an acute pain in my kidneys, a numbnefs in
my thighs, with great ficknefs at my ftomach,
and an head-ach ; here my former treatment
failed, and the medical gentlemen advifed me
to embark for England, which I did ; my dif-
order continued with little intermiffion from
pain to the 24th of September, when on my
paffage home, and after fix days torture, there
came from me a {tone about the fize and fhape
of a lemon -feed : from this time until July
j 787, I was never ten weeks free from pain,
and paffed above one hundred and fifty ftones
(exclufive of fmall gravel) ; feme larger than
the firft which I paffed, and few fmaller than
an hemp-feed. I had the beft medical advice
whilfl in England, and adhered ftriclly to their
directions for fome years ; foap-lees, four and
five pounds of honey in a week, wrild carrot,
and flax-feed tea, and numberlefs other ex-
periments I tried, but without relief; bloody
urine, lofs of appetite, and continual pain, had
fo much debilitated me, that I could fcarcely
wralk, ftand, or ride; and I almoft began to de-
fpair ever of meeting with any thing that
could give me eafe, or remove my complaint :
but early in June 1787, fortunately for me, a
gentleman who refides moftly at Bath did me
the honour of a vifit, and ftrongly recommended
Mr.
94 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
Mr. Colborne's Alkaline Solution, impreg-
nated with Fixed Air, from which I have
derived the happieft effects. It is now more
than fixteen months fince I have adopted the
above preparation, during which time I have
been totally free from my diforder ; my ap-
petite is returned -, I can take my exercife
as ufual, and I indulge myfelf in feveral
favourite things in eating and drinking,
from which I was before debarred, by advice
of phyficians. I allow the folution to be ex-
pofed to the Fixed Air for fixty hours, inftead
of forty-eight, (as mentioned in the printed
inftrudtions delivered at Parker's glafs-fhop,
in Fleet-ftreet,) which agrees better with my
flomach ; and I reftrid: myfelf to half a pint
of the Water on rifing in the morning, and the
fame quantity on going to bed. I hope that
the above ftatement of the effefts of the Al-
kaline Solution, impregnated with Fixed Air,
upon my diforder, may induce your friend to
make an experiment of it ; and that he may
receive the fame benefit with myfelf from it,
is the fincere wi£h of,
Dear Sir,
Your moft faithful*
humble fervant,
JOHN WILLIAMSON/'
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 95
Letter from Colonel Williamfon, to Benjamin
Col borne, Efq«
Shorter* s-hill, Nsv. 2tyhy 1 79 1.
V Sir,
" I am happy to have it in my power myfelfto
acknowledge your Letter addrejjed to Mrs. JVil-
lia?nfon; and JIM more happy, that the account
which I can give of my health isfuch ay is ex*
tremely gratifying to my f elf and I tru[l,from the
interejl you take in thoje who have been bene*
fited by your exertions, will prove highly f at if-
faffory to you. In fune 1787 I firjl attended
to the Mephitic Water. In myjlatcment which)
appeared in the lajl edition of the Virtues of the
Aqua Mephitic a Alkalina, I exprej/ed the advan-
tages I had derived from it : fmce that period I
have been perfectly free from even a dijlant
fymptom of my former diforder, with only one
exception. In a hngpajjage of f event een weeks
(1 7 90) from the Wejl Indies, I was under the
necejfty of being an economijl of the Water, which
I had bottled \ and difcontinued my afual pradlice
of half a pint of it in the morning, J or about
three weeks: nearly at the expiration of that
time, I was fenfble offome alarming fymptoms ;
I injlantly
96 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
linjlantly had recourfe to the few bottles I had
in referve, which dif petted every uneafy fenfation $
and landing fjortly after, I had an opportunity
of recruiting my fock. lam now, and have
been ever f nee my arrival in England, perfectly
well ; fill adhering to the Water, hut taking
half a pint only in the morning. Permit me to
Jubfcribe my f elf, what I really am,
Dear Sir,
Tour very obedient
and obliged ferv ant,
john Williamson:*
case xxil
Communicated by Mr. Perry,
A lady of this city, who wifhed her name
might not be mentioned, aged fifty, of a thin
habit of body, for many months has been af-
flicted with great nauL-a, lofs of appetite,
violent pains about the region of the kidneys,
frequent and forcing pain: to make water,
which comes away in very fmall quantities at
a time, and, on feuling a few minutes, depofits
a vifcid mucus, and land. A great variety of
mucilaginous and oily medicines have been
taken
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. <)J
been taken to no effect. On being informed
of her fymptoms, I recommended two ounces
only of the Alkaline folution, impregnated
with Fixed Air, to be taken three times a day.
It agreed perfectly well with her ftomach : in
the courfe of a week fhe found herfelf fen fibly
better in her general health ; the urine became
clear, and the remaining nephritic fymptoms
left her. The lady has continued the folution
one month, and is exceedingly well without
taking any other medicine.
CASE XXIII.
Communicated by Mr* Perry.
Thomas Shell, of this town, aged 1 3 years in
September 1787, applied to me, at the requeft
of Mr. Colborne, to be founded for the ftone.
He had great pain and difficulty in making
water, which came away by drops. He alfo
complained of a bearing weight at his funda-
ment, where nothing uncommon was to be
perceived. From his fymptoms, I founded
him, and found a ftone in his bladder. I de-
fired him to inform Mr. Colborne ofthiscir-
cumftance; which he did, as I was informed,
by the gentleman, who humanely and gene-
roufly took him under his care, and adminif-
tered the folution with more than ufualgoodef-
H fed.
98 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
fe£t. I believe the medicine was ufed for twelve
months, at times. Within thefe ten days the
lad called on me, with the greateft pleafure,
to found him again, which I did repeatedly,
and could not perceive any ftone, nor did he
complain of the lean: fymptom of it, Decem-
ber 4, 1788,
He took the water two months before h$
found any benefit,
December 1, 1791.
This patient has not taken any of the Me~
phitic Alkaline Water fine e December 1788.
He is now in perfefl health, and has been fo
everfince the time before mentioned.
CASE XXIV.
John Fuffell, of Bath, about 13 years old,
who had been cut for the ftone in Briftol In-
firmary, fix years before, could never retain
his urine in the day time, from the time of his
being cut. He began taking the Mephitic
Alkaline Water November the 29th, 1787,
and drank in two days a quart bottle of it,
with 30 drops of laudanum and fome hot milk.
This was continued for about a month, and
then
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 99
then the laudanum and milk was omitted. He
had not taken the water above a month or fix
weeks, before he retained his urine perfectly
well; which he continued to do, whilft he took
the water; but on leaving off the ufe of the
water for a few days, his diforder returned, and
continued as before mentioned, for a month,
till he began again taking the water, which
had the fame good effect as it had before for
three or four months. But by leaving off the ufe
of the water a fecond time, his diforder returned
as before. About the beginning of October
ij( 8, he began again on the water, and in
five or fix days time he could retain his urine
again, and did fo till December 2, 1788; and
then, by his own neglect in not continuing to
take the water, though bat for four or five
days, his diforder returned a third time; but
now he promifes not to omit it for the future,
and is likely to do well.
December ifl9 iygi.
Whilft John Fujfell was in a courfe of taking
the Mephitic Alkaline Water he retained his
urine perfectly well ; but he has not taken any
for J even or eight months. He nowfays9 that
whilft he continues at his work in a fitting p oft ure
he can retain his urine ; but that, if he ufes much
walking exercife, it comes from him in jmall
quantities*
H a CASE
TOO ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE XXV.
Copy of a Letter from Dr. Bourne, Phyfician at
Oxford, to William Falconer, M; D.
DEAR SIR, Oxford, May, Gtb 1790.
" I read your " Account of the efficacy of the
Aqua Mephitica Alkalina in calculous difor-
ders, &c." with much fatisfadion ; and having
met with an inftance of its good effects, 1
think it proper to fend the cafe to you, that
you may make what ufe you pleafe of it in
a future edition.
" Mr. Gofwell, the fubjett of the following
cafe, is a refpectable, plain, fenfible man. His
good underftanding enables him to defcribe
his fymptoms clearly, while his want of fci-
ence is a fecurity that he does not bend cir-
cumftances to any medical notions of his own.
With regard to myfelf, I cannot be fufpedted
of exaggeration, as it will be {cqd. that I was
entirely unconcerned in directing the means
which relieved the patient.
I am, dear Sir,
Your obliged
and faithful fervant
ROBERT BOURNE'.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 101
'January 23, 1790.
" Mr. William Gofwell, dealer in timber,
of Woodftock in Oxfordshire, now fifty years
of age, had, previous to the year 1786, been
feveral times afHi&ed with pain in the neigh-
bourhood of the kidneys, which was fome-
times attended with difficulty in making wa-
ter ; twice, when thus affefted, the pain was
fo considerable as to induce him to fubmit to
the exhibition of aclyfter, which immediately
relieved him ; and he formed no other opinion
of his complaint than that it was cholic. In the
autumn of the year 1786, he was fuddenly
feized with a violent pain in the right kidney,
extending from thence acrofs the lower part
of the abdomen towards the bladder : the pain
brought on vomiting, and lafred forty-eight
hours, without intermiffion ; the water, du-
ring this time, came away in drops, and was
bloody : at the end of forty-eight hours he
became eafy, the urine then pafied freely, and
was no longer bloody ; he continued eafy for
fcven or eight days, when, riding on horfe-
back, he had a fudden call to make water, but
found, when he attempted to obey this call,
that he could void fcarcely any, and the attempt
brought on considerable pain in the urethra.
H 3 He
102 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
He returned home, and drank an infufion of
the garden parfley, refraining as long as he
could from any effort to make water, thinking
that the fuller the bladder became, the more
force he fhould be able to exert againft the
obftrudting caufe; by and by, on {training
hard, he forced away a ftone from the urethra,
ihaped like an orange-feed, and nearly half an
inch in length.
€i From this time to the fummer of 1787, he
continued eafy, and made water freely ; at the
time laft mentioned he was again fuddenly
feized with a pain in the right kidney -y this
lafted about an hour, and then went off: he
kept ftill for many hours ; the pain did not re-
turn while he kept ftill, and he made water
with eafe ; but, on attempting to move about
as ufual, the pain in the kidney returned,
though with lefs violence. He had frequent
calls to make water, made but little at a time,
and that of a coffee colour, from which blood
fubfided on ftanding. From this period
exercife on foot or on horfeback conftantly
brought on the painful fenfation in the right
kidney, a pain extending from the hip down
to the knee on the right fide, a fenfation of
weight acrofs the upper part of the offa pubis,
a fre quent
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 103
a frequent inclination to make water, which
was always on thefe occafions voided in fmall
quantities at a time, and exhibited the ap-
pearances above mentioned : he was eafy no
longer than while he kept himfelf in a ftate
•f reft.
<e In this lituation, a very diftrefiing one to
a man of an adtive mind and in an adtive bull-
nefs, he remained more than a year and half;
in which fpacehe had good medical affi (lance,
gave a fair trial to many medicines, and ob-
ferved great regularity in diet. Among the
medicines v/ere lime-water and the infufion of
the wild carrot feeds. The lime water- induced
an unpleafant ftate of coftivenefs ; but he did
not think that it at all relieved his complaint:
of the infufion of the wild carrot feeds he
fpeaks more favourably, and is clearly of opi-
nion that at times it gave him confiderable
relief. He obferved that during this period,
his chamber-pot was always covered with a
pretty thick fur, and that he fometimes voided
bits of gravel.
" About April 1 789, when his complaint had
rendered him more thin, weak, and difpirited,
Mr. Knipe, a clergyman who ferved a church
H 4 in
104 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
in his neighbourhood, became acquainted with
his cafe; and reco ; that a friend of his,
in a fimilar fituation had been n v the
Mephitic Alkalin, e k our
treatife to Mr. Go: ho imme ro-
cured a machine ioi
prepared it according to 3 n s, id
took the third of a pint, th
without any addition : at the end of iutle
more than a month he began to feel himielf
benefited, and in two months found himfelf
manifeftly better; from that time he ventured
gradually to increafe his exercife, and experi-
enced no inconvenience from it ; he proceeded
cautioufly, and was foon able to attend to his
bufinefs> and rode or walked after it, as fuited
his convenience : latterly he has fometimes
been upon his legs five or fix hours in a day,
or has ridden eight or ten miles and back
again ; more than once he has ridden forty
miles in a day, in a flage-coach ; and none of
thefe exertions have caufed a return of his
complaint.
u Since his amendment thechamber-pothas
not been furred in general, nor has he voided
bits of gravel of any fize j but he has fometimes
voided a little fine fand. He can now lie all
4 night
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, IOJ
night without ufing his chamber-pot ; whereas
before his amendment, even when eafy, he was
obliged to ufe it four or five times in the courfe
of a night. He cannot help thinking that the
quantity of urine has been greater fince the
taking of this medicine than it was before his
indiipofition, though the quantity of liquids,
which he drinks is not greater. He was dif-
pofed to coftivenefs before he took this medi-
cine; that difpofition is now removed, and the
body is kept regularly open by it. He has
recovered his flefh and fpirits ; his appetite is
good ; but he fays, that did not fail him much
during his illnefs.
" He took a pint of the water daily for fix
months ; fince that time he has taken two
thirds of a pint only."
Copy of a Letter from Mr. William Gofvvell,
to Dr. Bourne, Oxford.
SIR, Woodcott, Nov, 28, 1791.
" Since I had the honour of explaining my
cafe to you in January 1790, have had no re-
turn of my old complaint. I have fornetimes
obferved fome fandy fediment at the bottom
of the chamber-pot, but felt no pain or un-
eafinefs
106 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
cafinefs ufually attending the gravel and (Tone,
which I had fo long before, and fo feverely
felt y but, thanks be to God, have enjoyed ex-
ceeding good health were lince ; and am,
SIR,
With all due refpedt,
your mofl humble fervant,
WILLIAM GOSWELL.
" P.S. I ftill continue taking the water, nearly
half a wine-pint each day : I generally take
it fafting, and laft at night."
CASE XXVI.
Extract of a Letter from Mr. Samuel Bent-
ley, of Uttoxeter, Staff or dfhire, to William
Falconer, M. D.
DEAR SIR, Uitoxeter, Jug. 12, 1 790.
" As I have received fuch benefit from your
publication, which diredrs the way of making
the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina, and as I feel
myfelf under fo great obligations to you ; I
think I am bound, out of gratitude and juf-
tice, to fend you my cafe, with an account of
the effett that medicine had upon me , which
I think
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 10J
I think will appear to the world to be as won-
derful, and as ftrong a proof of the efficacy of
the medicine, as any you have yet publifhed.
" It will be proper, in the firft place, to let
you know, that from my early youth I have
always been of a tender and thin habit of body,
ftill rendered more fo, by having the fmall-
pox in a very bad way ; but though I am now
upwards of fixty, I have, till the laft fixteea
or feventeen years (except being frequently
troubled with the piles) had tolerable health,
fo as to be able to follow my buiinefs, which
was not indeed of a kind that required any vio-
lent exertions, except riding pretty long jour-
nies ; and as I had fufficient leifure from my
bufinefs, I had alfo fpirits to enjoy feveral
amufements, particularly bowling in the fum-
mer, and going out with my greyhounds in
winter, and could follow them moft part of
the day without fatigue. And I muft alfo
add, that I was very careful, not to indulge in
any excefs in eating, and more particularly in
drinking.
" About the time I mentioned above, I had
frequent rheumatic complaints, and my health
began to decline greatly j I was often much
out
208 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
out of order, had frequent fhiverings attended
with feverifh and heftic diforders, with pains
about my loins, and often fo very weak and
lev/, that I fell into fainting fits after ufing
the lead exercife; fo that I was obliged to
decline both my bufinefs and feveral of my
amufements. I frequently found quantities of
fmall red fand in my chamber-pot, but did
not then think that the gravel was my prin-
cipal complaint ; though I afterwards found,
that a calculous diforder grew upon me every
year : the gravel that came from me grew
larger, and I often parted with ftones about
the fize of a vetch ; and whenever I got a
cold, the calculous complaint came upon me
with greater violence.
" I continued much in the fame way till the
fpring of the laft year, 1789, when I grew fo
bad that nothing which had ufed to relieve
me gave me the leaft eafe. I had the advice
of the medical gentlemen in the place where
I live, and all the ufual remedies were tried,
but without fuccefs ; and though I followed
their prefcriptions with the greateft exaclnefs,
my pains continued with the fame violence,
attended with all the aggravating appendages
to that terrible complaint ; I was not able to
ride
AqUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. IO9
ride out a little way, though I went the moft
gentle pace poffible ; and I could not walk in
the garden without my water being moft part
of it blood, and it would even be fo if I did
but walk about in the parlour ; I had befides
fuch frequent urgings and irritations to make
water, though it was only for a few drops,
that they came upon me ten or twelve times
in a quarter of a-n hour ; and the acrimony
was fo great, that after the laft drop the pain
was almoft death to me. I was often obliged
to change my fhirt for a dry one, and that
would be in the fame wet condition in five
minutes time ; fo that for fome weeks I was
even offensive to myfelf ; and at laft I was as
bad as ever any perfon could be, and my
pains as intolerable; and as calculous difor-
ders have been hereditary in my family, and
proved fatal to fome of my anceftors, I began
to give myfelf up as incurable : when (hap-
pily for me) the lady of the nobleman who
franks this letter, hearing of the deplorable
way I was in, fent me your book of cafes,
with the directions for making the Aqua Me-
phitica Alkalina ; and as I faw fome cafes in
it nearly fimilar to my own, particularly Dr.
Cooper's, I immediately fent for a glafs ap-
paratus from Parker 5 and as I had, among
other
110 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
other acquirements, fome knowledge in che-
miftry, I foon got into a way of making the
medicine, fo as to be perfedtly faturated with
the Fixed Air ; and I am happy to inform
you, that after I had taken the medicine
twice a day for about a fortnight, I began to
find benefit : the firft appearance of amend-
ment was in my water, which began to get
clear, and more free from mucus ; and after
fome time I made no more bloody water :
I could however ftill perceive I had ftones
either in the neck of the bladder, or the
urethra ; but though they continued to feel
uneafy, the fling of them was gone. The firft
time I ventured to go out, after I was better,
was about five miles in a poft chaife, to return
thanks to the lady who fent me your book
of cafes ; and the day after, I parted with a
ftone, about the fize of a large pea, one fide
of it much corroded, and it came from me
without the leaft pain : I parted with feveral
more afterwards ftill more corroded, fo that
they crumbled betwixt my fingers ; which, I
think, proves the efficacy of the medicine be-
yond a doubt : but the laft ftone I parted
with, which was about three months after I
began with the medicine, had all the infide
entirely wafted a,way, being nothing more
than
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. Ill
than a ftony cave, interfe&ed with fine fibres
in every direction, like a cobweb ; but in at-
tempting to wrap it up in paper, in order to
preferve it, I broke it to powder.
" I began to take the medicine about the
1 8th of July lad year, and I took a quarter
of a pint tumbler of it twice a day till the i ft
of January ; and fince that time I have taken
it only once a day, which I find keeps me
perfe&ly free from pain, as alfo from any
fymptoms of my former fufFerings : I have
no more thofe urgings, irritations, and acri-
mony, and I can now hold my water from
three to four or five hours ; and I can now
take my morning walks into the fields as
ufual before breakfaft, and my rides for ten or
twelve miles betwixt breakfaft and dinner 3
and I do not think I have any particles of cal-
culi remaining 5 and the medicine not only
gives me fpirits, as much as if I drank a glafs
of Champagne, but agrees with me fo perfe&ly
well in every refpedl that I have recovered my
fleili again, fo much fo, that I have been
obliged to have all my cloaths let out.
w I fhould have wrote to you fooner, to have
informed you of the benefit I have happily
received
112 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
received from the medicine, but I waited till
I had given it one whole year's probation,
which is now more than completed. I am
rather in doubt whether I fhould continue fo
well, if I was to leave it off entirely; fo I take
a little tumbler of it once a day, and fhall do
fo for ibme time longer, as it agrees with me
fo perfectly well.
cc Pleafe to accept of my moft grateful ac-
knowledgments, and my fincerefl thanks for
the infinite fervice your remedy of the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina has been of to me -9 and I
am, with the trueft efteem,
Dear Sir,
Your highly obliged
And very humble fervant,
S. BENTLEY."
ExtraB of a fecond Letter from Mr, Bentley.
"SIR, Uttoxctcr, 24th Nov. 1791.
c< I think myfelf honoured by your favour of
the 13th infl. I was anxious to get a frank,
that I might take the firft opportunity of an-
fwering it, which I now do with the utmofi:
gratitude to you for being the means (through
the goodnefs of Providence) of reftoring me
to
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I I 3
to that greateft of all bleffings health, from
a ftate of fuch deplorable rpifery, which none
can conceive, who have not been in the fame
fad fituation •> and I muft alio inform you, that
the benefit I received from the Alkaline Water
has proved permanent, with refpect to my cal-
culous complaint, and fo every way beneficial
to my conftitution, that it has relieved me
from the faintings I was fo fubjecT: to, hectic
heats, &c. And I now write to you in joy and
gladnefs of heart, being in better health, ex-
cept fometimes a common cold, or rheumatic
complaints, than at any time of my life ; I
both ride and walk about with eafe and plea-
fure to myfelf ; my complexion, from being
pale and wan, is become florid ; and, from be-
ing thin and emaciated, I am got plump : but
I ftill continue taking the medicine ; for, as I
have fuffered fo feverely, I cannot yet venture
to leave it off. I began to take it in the fum-
mer of 1789, and I took a quarter of a pint-
tumbler twice every day regularly till the ift
of January 1790$ and as I was then much re-
lieved, I took it only once a day till January
1791 ; and from that time I have omitted
taking it one day in a week ; and if I find I
continue well, I fhall omit it farther, from,
the begining of the next year/'
I CASE
114 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE XXVII.
" In the year 1779 I'was attacked with a
ftrangury and total fupprcffion of urine for
fever al hours, without being able to afTign any
caufe; but, after taking emulfions and muci-
lages, I was enabled to pafs urine again : I had
many returns of the complaint ; and in par-
ticular, one time I was advifed to drink fome gin
and water, which I foon found to increafe my
pain, and caufe greater irritation to make water.
I was put into a warm bath, without any good
effedt and a furgeon drew off my water by a
catheter; and hefo wounded the paffage near
the proitate glands, that a great quantity of
blood pafled off with the urine. He told me
I had a ftone in my bladder : being rather
alarmed, I then confuted the late Mr. Elfe,
who, on palling a bougie, told me my com-
plaint was not calculous, but fromaftricture.
I alfo confulted Mr. John Hunter, who like-
wife told me I had a ftriclure, and advifed me
to wear bougies: I did fo ; but not being able
to indulge during my wearing them, they fre-
quently irritated the difeafed part very much.
Here I muft obferve, that, on my introducing
the
AQVA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. II^
the bougies, they have feemed to rub againft
fome very hard rough fubftance near the neck
of the bladder; but, on withdrawing them,
I never could obferve any impreffion had been
made on them. During my wearing bougies,
from 1779 to 1786, I had many total flop-
pages of urine, from which I could always re-
lieve myfelf during the firft part of the above
period, by introducing a catheter ; and after-
wards the paffage became too narrow for the
fmalleft catheter I could get, and I made ufe
of a fmall bougie. From T786 I left off the
ufe of bougies, and continued to make urine
with difficulty ; but had not any total (lop -
page until December 1790, when, having
drank one evening rather freely of fome very
ftrong brandy and water, I had frequent irri-
tations to make water, which I then paffed
with fome difficulty; and the next evening
being again- engaged in company, I very im-
prudently retained my urine a long time
(though irritated to pafs it), until I felt the
ufual fymptoms of fuppreflion. I had no ileep
during the night; and being obliged to go from
home five miles, I went on horfeback ; and
being a very wet and cold day, I felt a chill on
my ikin, made many attempts to pafs my
urine, but without effect. I returned home,
I 2 ordered
Il6 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
ordered a warm bath to be got ready, and fent
for a phyfician and a furgeon, who, by the
ufe of the warm bath, bleeding, anodynes, by
the mouth and clyfter, and other remedies,
relieved me from the moft diftreffing painful
fpafmodic efforts to void my urine, during
the fupprefilon ( which continued twenty-eight
hours), I had ever experienced; when the
urine began to flow by drops, and my bladder
was emptied in about fix hours. Here I muft
mention that different-fized catheters and
bougies were attempted to be introduced, but
without effect. At the end of a month from
this time, I was recovered from theweaknefs
and irritability confequent on the fuppreffion
of urine; wThen I found the ilri&ure and irri-
tability of my urethra in the fame ftate as
previous to this attack. By the fuggeftion of
a medical friend, who was then at Bath, my
urine v/as tried with paper, ftained with lit-
mus, and found to be furcharged with acid ;
and by his recommendation I began taking the,
Alkaline Mephitic Water (prepared according
to the directions in Dr. Falconer's pamphlet) ;
from which I foon found my urine pafs with
more eafe, and the ft ream rather fuller. By re-
peated trials of my urine during my taking this
water, I have found it has effectually prevented
my
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. WJ
my urine being acid (for the litmus teft-paper
is not altered in colour when dipped in it),
which I, as well as the medical gentleman who
attended me, think was the principal if not fole
caufe of the pain and inconveniences which
have at various times been the confequence of
the ftridture.
" I continue to drink the water from \ to a
pint in a day, and have the happinefs to think
I now pafs my urine with as much eafe, and
nearly with as much freedom, as I ever did in
my life. I abftain from no food whatever;
I drink mild beer and wine at dinner; and only
avoid fpirits, fruit, and acids. I have not ever
found the Aqua Mephitica to difagree with
me. I have a good appetite, and am well in
health.
" P. S. When I have been in London for a
fhort time, and have omitted to take the
Water, I have felt a return of the ftridure ;
but on going into the country, and again
taking the ufual quantity of the Water, it
has been always immediately relieved."
I 7 Extract
Il8 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
CASE XXVIII.
Extract of a Letter fent to Dr. Stonhoufe, by
Benjamin Colbome, Efq. dated Nov. 15,
1791.
" As you acquainted me you had received
benefit by the ufe of the Mephitic Alkaline
Water, and that you had kept a journal of
your cafe, I mould be obliged to you if you
would pleafe to fend it me, as I prefume you
will have no objection to the printing of it
for the public good. Dr. Falconer is now
going to publifh another edition of the Trea-
tife on the Mephitic Alkaline Water : your
cafe, therefore, with fome others not inferted
in the former editions, will be an acceptable
addition.
" Soon after I had received the letter from
Mr. Colborne, I drew him up my cafe, as
follows :
1786.
u On Odlober 5, having no fufpicion of a
flcne, or any previous fymptoms of it, ex-
cept
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. II9
cepta more frequent irritation to make water,
which I attributed to my age (being then in
my 71ft year), I voided a round flonc with
little pain. This alarmed me; but, as I was
in a tolerable good ftate of health, conlidering
fome infirmities, and no troublefome calcu-
lous fymptoms, I was unwilling to have re -
courfe to medicine.
" November 15 — I voided three more fmall
round ftones, one after another, at one time.
66 December 11 — Another about the fame
fize.
1787.
" On January 1 — I voided two fmall ftones.
30 — A larger round one.
" February 3 — A fmall round ftone in the
morning — a large round one in the after-
noon.
27 — A large round one,
" March 9 — A little ftone, not larger than
a vetch.
10 — Another, thrice as large.
23 — A round ftone, the fize of a
large pea, and very turbid urine after it.
I 4 « May
120 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
" May ic — A fmall round (tone.
23 — Two fmall round ones.
" September 6 — A large round ftone.
" Odt. 12— A large round ftone.
18 — A middle-fized round ftone.
" During this year I kept my body open
by foluble medicines, fuch as manna with oil,
fmall doles of rhubarb, and occasionally with
caftor oil -, and when in pain, as I fometimes
was, I took oil with liquid laudanum, or
pills of folid opium, barley-water with gum
arabic; and I drank Briftol water on the fpot.
— My diet, chiefly white meats, or filh ; ab-
staining from every tiling fait, and hard of
digeftion. My general breakfaft and fupper
was half a pint either of milk or chocolate,
and which I fhall fcarcely ever alter,
1788.
" January 12 — A very large round ftone,
which paiTed with difficulty. From this
time to April I was fometimes in pain, par-
ticularly about the neck of the bladder, and
now and then made water with pain at the
end of the urethra, and turbid urine. I took
foftening things occasionally, as barley-water
with
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 121
with gum arabic, and linfeed tea fweetened
with honey, &c.
" In the month of April I communicated
thefe circumftances to Dr. Fothergill at Bath,
being then on a vilit to my fon-in-law, Mr.
Vigor, at Bathford, and in a good deal of
pain, feemingly about the right ureter : he
advifed me to try the warm bath, which I
did twice with a degree of eafe : he advifed
me likewife to ufe anodynes freely, and
ftrongly recommended the trial of the Me-
phitic Water. On April 13 I began to take
it, and took at four times two quarts of it,
which did not difagree with me : but as I foon
returned to my living at Cheferel in Wilt-
shire, 22 miles from Bath, I could not pro-
cure any more till May 5, when 1 received
an hamper with four bottles of it, of which
I took regularly half a pint a morning, and
the fame at evening. On May the 21ft I re-
ceived from Bath two quarts more : the
whole therefore I then took, amounted to no
more than eight quarts. Finding myfelf eq/ier,
and a difficulty in getting a fupply of the
water frefh ana frefh from Bathy, which muft
be conveyed in bottles, I determined to defifl
from a medicine I could not procure without
4 inter-
122 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
interruption, nor in perfection : I took that
in quart bottles, but afterwards I had half-
pint bottles made, each to hold only a iingle
dofe.
" June 10 — I made urine tinged with blood,
as I rode in my carriage, and a turbid urine,
but nothing paffed.
" From this time to Sept. 5 I was tolerably
well, rarely in pain, and voided no ftones :
but this temporary relief I cannot attribute to
the fmall quantity I took (and with interrup-
tions) of the Mephitic Water at that time;
the only apparent eitedt of which, as I then
perceived, was, that it was rather too diu-
retic.
" September 5 — Great pain in the night,
for the firft time, feemingly about the right
ureter.
" Sept. 21 and 25 — Returns of the pain,
more or lefs violent, and generally in the
night; fometimes lick with the pain, but
not much fo.
" November
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, I2J
" November 5 — The night and next day in
great pain. I fomented the parts with blad-
ders of hot water, and fupplied it well with
oil and liquid laudanum, and took large dofes
of opium an hour or two before bed-time.
" Nov. 11, 24, and 29 — Violent pain,
feemingly in the right ureter; but as I had
had no certain fymptom of the ftone for fome
time, nor paffed any fince January 12, I
queftion whether this violent pain might not
have bztnfpaf?nodic9 efpecially as I have been
fubjecl: to dreadful fpafms (or cramps) in my
legs, and fometimes on the right fide of my
breaft.
" December 2, 18, 19, 22, 28, and 31— •
Violent pain, feemingly about the right ureter,
which would laft for fome hours, and go off
gradually ; leaving neither bloody urine, dif-
ficulty in making it, or perception of any
ftone paffing: it might therefore be merely
fpafmodicy for the reafons I have fuggefted.
1789,
€i January 4, 6, and 8 — Great pain, and
occafionally fick with it, but to foch a degree
as
124 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
as to vomit. I took folid opium, but not
with the relief I expelled.
" Jan. 10 — Pain returned: I fomented the
parts with bladders, filled with warm water;
embrocated it with oil and laudanum, drank
emuliions, emollient infufions of rad. alth.
coltsfoot, bcc.
" Jan. 23 — Pain returned with great ve-
hemence, and lafled longer than ufual. From
this day I rarely have had any complaints of
that kind ; but now and then voided turbid
urine ; the fediment of which was fcmetimes
fo hard at the bottom of the pot, as to re-
quire a fcraper to get it off.
" On Wednefday, June 3, I had a far-
ther converfation with Dr. Fothergill, and
told him that, as he had fome time ago re-
commended the Mephitic Water to me ; and
as, being then at my livings in Wiltfhire, I
found it inconvenient to procure it, efpecially
as it muff be brought in bottles, and not
caring to be at the trouble of making it my-
felf ; I had by no means given it a fair trial.
The Dodtor was of opinion, that it would be
right in me to renew it 5 efpecially as the
fu miner
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA* I25
fummer was advancing, and as I could have
an uninterrupted fupply from Mr. Becket,
in Corn-ftreet, Briftol, who makes it in the
greatest degree of perfection, I then defired
the favour of Dr. Fothergill, as he was ac-
quainted with Mr. Colborne, to introduce
me to him, that I might relate the whole of
my cafe to him, and have his fentiments,
whether he would have me enter on a regular
courfe of the water. Accordingly I waited on
Mr. Colborne, June 3, 1789 : no one could
be more obliging to me than he was ; fhewed
me various experiments he had made on the
human calculi ; and gave me fatisfa&ory rea-
fdns, approved by the Doctor, why I ihould
immediately enter on fuch a courfe. He fup-
pofed I had fome fmall ftone, or calculous v
yellowifh fand at the neck of the bladder,
which had not come away, and which occa-
fionally brought on pain and irritation to void
frequent and fmall quantities of urine. He
was fo kind as to fupply me with a few bot-
tles of the water, during the three or four
days I ftaid at Bath, and on that day and the
next I drank half a pint in the morning, and
the fame in the evening, with two table
fpoonfuls of hot milk in each dofe.
a
From
126 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
" From June 3 to 25 I took it without
any vifible efFedt, except being rather diu-
retic.
€€ On June 25, 26, 27, I made urine
tinged deeply with blood on walking, but
without pain.
"I then wrote to Mr. Colborne from
Briftol Wells (where I now live), to know
if he thought I might fafely perfevere in the
ufe of the medicine, as I had for three days
fucceffively made bloody urine, on no other
motion than gently walking. On his anfwer
in the affirmative, I continued it for fix
months regularly.
<c July 2 — Urine again tinged with blood,
and fome drops of pure blood (previous to
it) ; but with little pain.
" From July 3d to the 1 ^th, for feveral
days there was fufpended in the middle of a
glafs of urine, what appeared to me, a kind
of mucus.
" July 16 — J voided a fmall fragment of
a flone,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 12J
a ftone, very hard ; as indeed were all the
ftones I had before voided.
" July 22 — Another fmall fragment of a
ftone, which appeared like a fmall ftone di-
vided into two parts.
" From the 15th to the 22d, I had a little
of the mucus fufpended in the glafs of urine.
No ftone paffed from the 22d to the 31ft of
this month, nor any mucus appeared.
" Auguft 1 — Some mucus fufpended.
6 — A little yellowifh fand, evi-
dently of the calculous kind, appeared at the
bottom of the pot yellowifh : moft of the
remaining days of this month, either fand or
mucus, or both, came away from me.
" From September 1 to no 16 fand, and,
except for two days, no mucus.
" September 15 to 1 3, no fand, except
one day only.
" September 19, voided half an hard fmall
ftone, like the half of a cockle-fhell.
" From
128 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
" From that day to September 30, only
a little mucus now and then ; but on this
day I was lick, and in great pain at the end
of the urethra.
€< From October 1 to 9, free from fand or
mucus, and quite eafyj but on that day I
voided fome harder fand than perhaps I ever
voided before.
€C From October 9 to 24, only a little
mucus ; and on that day a little fand, not fo
hard as in general.
" October 26 — The fplinter of a ftone,
which came away with fome pain.
" To the 31ft, quite eafy.
" November — This whole month quite
eafy, no fand, and only now and then a very
little mucus.
<<
December — Quite eafy all this month.
" My complaints being feemingly removed,
I defijled from taking the Mephitic Water.
1790.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 129
I790-
" From January I, 1790, to May 14,
1 79 1 (a year and four months), I continued
free from my complaints, except more fre-
quent irritations to make water, than when
in a ftate of health ; nor had walking or ri-
ding any bad effect on me, even though I
difufed an hollow cufhion, which I before
ufed, to prevent the neck of the bladder from
preffing on the feat*
1791.
fC In the month of April, 1791, I was
confined to my bed by a fever, and a very
formidable cough, with large difcharges of
thick phlegm; during which time I had for
feveral days an excruciating pain at the neck
of my bladder, and fuch a pain in making
water, as was very grievous indeed ; fcarcely
many minutes without calling for the pot.
During this terrible fituation I drank three
or four quarts of the common emulfion of the
London Difpenfatory in the four and twenty
hours ; foon after which I had two very large
jagged ftones, adhering to each other, came
from me, with inexpreilible torture, and
bloody urine. Mr. Lowe, of Briftol, my
JC furgeon,
I30 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
furgeon, could fcarcely believe they could
have pafled through the urethra.
" I then found I had acted very impru-
dently (and feverely indeed I fuffered for it) in
leaving off the Mephitic Water for fo long
a time ; during which interval thefe ftones, I
prefume, had generated: whereas, in all hu-
man probability, had I omitted the Water for
a few months, and then taken it once in a day
only, I ihould have had no return of my com-
plaints, no future generation of the ftones.
" Five days after this, in the month of April,
the forenefs of the urethra was fo great, that
I voided my urine with an inconceivable de-
gree cf pain. As foon as the part was healed,
after fo great a laceration, I had immediate
recourie to the Mephitic Water : a few days
after taking this, I voided the fragment of a
fai all (tone with little pain, in the month of
May ; and on the 30th of May, another frag-
ment of it : neither of them fo hard as any of
the former ftones that had palled.
" On June ift, I voided a rough ftone, of a
middling fize, with fome pain and blood.
" I continued
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I3I
" I continued the Mephitic Water during the
months of May, June, July, Auguft, and
September ; was free from pain, or ftone, but
now and then (though feldom) a little yel-
lowifh fand, and a little fufpended mucus.
<c As I found it in my conjiitntion rather more
diuretic than formerly, and as I had been fo
long in a manner eafy, I had determined gra-
dually to omit it, and to return to it again after
a fhcrt period.
€€ But, to my fuprife, on Oclober I2thlaft,
I voided a fmall a .; lar one with very little
pain 5 fince which, to this prefent day, No-
vember 23d, I have been quite free from
any complaint of the calculous kind.
" Query ? — Was this fmall angular ftone left
behind in the bladder from June rft, fince
which day none had paffed till October 12;
or was it generated under a courfe of the Me-
phitic Water, during the many months I took
it ? — It feems to me mod probable, as it does
to Dr. Fothergill, that the ftone, being fmall,
remained in the kidneys, or bladder, and was
not generated during the courfe of the Me-
phitic Water."
Brijiol IVelh, Nov. 23^, 1 79 1.
K2
I32 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
Copy of a Letter from John Ingen-Houfz, Body
Pbyjician to their Imperial mid Royal Ma-
jesties, to William Falconer, M.D.
i* Dear Sir,
fi You will always find me ready, both as
a man and as a phyfician, to contribute, as far
as lies in my power, to the relief of human
mifery, and to fecond your difinterefted views,
directed to fo laudable an end, as that of com-
municating to the public one of the moft va-
luable, and perhaps the moft beneficial remedy
ever difcovercd againft the moft excruciating
of all difeafes, the Stone and Gravel : a remedy
which, having been prefented to the world in
the moft liberal way, as foon as it was difco-
vered, reflects immortal honour on that worthy
and truly philanthropic man, Mr. Benjamin
Colborne, the inventor of it.
" I will firft defcribeyou fome cafes, which
my learned friend Dr. Van Breda, phyiician at
Delft, in the province of Holland, commu-
nicated to me in different letters, fince I made
him acquainted with this important difcovery ^
after which, I will give you fome account of
my
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I33
my own cafe, and of fome others, which fell
occafionally under my obfervation fince my
prefent refidence in your happy Ifland.
<c A youth about 15 years old, fubjecT: from
his childhood to fymptoms of the gravel, was
all on a fudden feized, in the middle of June
1790, with a very acute pain in the left kid-
ney, accompanied with an almoft total fup-
preflion of urine: thofe fymptoms being by
proper treatment much abated, a troublefome
pain remained for fome days in the region of
the left kidney, after which the pain defcended
gradually lower and lower towards the bladder,
where, in the courfe of a few days, it fixed
itfelf, extending through the lower and left
part of the abdomen. The pain being fixed
at that place, was foon accompanied with a
pain in making water, principally at the time
when the bladder was nearly emptied. Dr.
Van Breda, not doubting that fome gravel or
(tone was formed in the left kidney, and that
in its defcent through the left urethra it ftuck
towards its orifice, which opens into the ca-
vity of the bladder, gave him a pint of the
Mephitic Alkaline Water daily, which con-
tained one drachm of fait of tartar. In the
fpace of four or five days the urine came forth
K 3 in
1 ?4 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
in greater quantity, and with much lcfs pain ;
1 is appetite, which was much impaired, as
well as his general health, were both much
mended.
" After having taken the medicine fifty days,
he was reitored to perfect health, and left
Delfi j line- w hich time the Dodtor has heard
no more of him, and never was certain if he
ever difcharged a Anne fincc he to take
the Mephitic Alkaline Abater,
" A man, aged forty- 'right years, laboured
under a difficulty of making water more than
two years, which increafed to fuch a degree
in July 1790, that he could pafs no urine but
by drops ; and at laft almoft none at all could
be paffed, but by means of a hollow bougie,
by which, befides fome urine, a very thick
mucus was alfo difcharged. He fuffered, be-
fore the application of the bougie, tnc moft
excruciating pain and tortures, in the co: tinual
{training to make water ; and the introduction
of the bougie brought but a temporary and
imperfed relief. Dr. \ran Breda thought that
the ufeofthe Aqua Mephitis a Alkalina might
do him fome good, and accordingly gave him
a pint daily.
" The
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I35
" The patient complained, after taking the
firft dofes, of fome pain in his helly, which
however went off foon. The patient began in a
few days to void more urine, but mixed with
a prodigious quantity of tough flime, fome-
what refembling jelly, which funk to the bot-
tom of the chamber-pot, and adhered fo
ftrongly to it, that, after the urine was (trained
off, it did not fall out, although the veffel was
kept inverted,
" The quantity of mucus which the patient
paffed during the firft ten or twelve days was
not lefs than a pint a day: the pain, which
was very great during the time this mucus
was palling, decreafed gradually, in proportion
as more urine was paffed along with it. After
having taken the medicine twenty-five days,
almoft every fymptom of the difeafe had left
him, his urine became of a natural colour, and
no flime was to be feen in it. He continued
from this time the ufe of the Alkaline Water,
but took only half a pint daily. After having
thus taken thirty-two pints, he became per-
fectly free from every complaint, and his
health continued good for five months ; but in
January 1791 he acquainted his phyfician,
that fome {lime began again to make its ap-
K 4 pearance
I36 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
pearencein his urine, which being examined
by the tell of Mr. Colborne's blue paper, was
found to have an acid predominant in it. Dr.
Van Breda advifed him, on this, to begin again
a courfe of the Mephitic Alkaline Water,
which removed in a lew days every appear-
ance of that kind. The patient ftill continues
to take one dofe every - ; ;.', and has remained
free from every morbid iymptom to the pre-
fent time, namely, March, 1791 .
" Since the communication of the above cafe,
Dr. Van Breda related to me the hiftory of
feveral other difeafes affecting the urinary or-
gans, cured by the fame remedy; among
which I will defcribe two of the mod re-
markable.
" A lady of a corpulent habit of body, and
paft the meridian of life, inclined to a drop-
fical difpofition. Her urine came in fmall
quantities and was at laft almoft totally flip-.
pre/Ted ; fcarcely any being fecreted by the kid-
neys. : - ihis \ larmiuj; ftate fhe took tneadvice
of Dr. Van Breda, who prefcribed for her the
ufe of the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina. She had
fcarcely taken two pints ot it, before fhe found
herfelf much relieved ; the urine began to be
fecreted
AQ^JA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I37
fccreted more and more copioufly ; and (he was
in a few days almoft well ; and her appetite
increafed. She continues ftill the ufe of the
medicine.
" In a letter of the fame phyfician, dated
Delft, July 4, 1 79 1, the following very re-
markable cafe was communicated to me :
'? A patient labouring under the ftone ap-
plied to Dr. Van Breda, who advifed him to
the ufe of the Alkaline Water: by the ufe of
which he foon began to pafs a number of fmall
flony concretions, generally about the fize of
a fmall cherry-ftone, which were eafily bro-
ken by the fingers, and proved to be laminated
white covers, or fhells, containing another
kind cf fmall ftones, very fmooth, brown, and
much harder than their covers, and of dif-
ferent fizes, fome being no bigger than a fmall
pin's head -, befides thefe laminated ftones or
fhells, he pafTed alfo a great deal of the fame
kind of ftones, already broken into two, three,
or more pieces, and a proportionable number
of the brown fmooth ftones ; which it was
evident had been, whilft in the bladder, fhut
up in the laminated white ftones ; of which
covers or fhells the laminated fragments were
4 evidently
138 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
evidently the broken remains. His urine be-
came alfo charged with a whitifh fediment,
which, not being difiolved in urine, was only
fwimming in it as a 1 heterogeneous matter,
which was in appearance cretaceous, and of
the fame nature with the mells or covers of
the fmall fmooth brown Hones. At the time
this letter was written, the patient had voided
fo many of thefe fmall flones or nucleuses and
their (hells, that, if they had been put together,
would have been as large as a pigeon's egg.
Dr. Van Breda fent me fome of thefe calculi.
I was farther informed that this patient, after
having paffed a great quantity of thefe calculi,
and of the apparently cretaceous matter, grew
daily better, and was, O&ober 13, 1 791, quite
free from pain in making water. Though his
phyfician thought he was not yet radically
cured, yet he himfelf wasfo far fatisfied, that
he left off taking the Water, contrary to Dr.
Van Breda's advice. That phyfician found the
white mells above mentioned dilTolved eafily
in the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina, but that the
brown fmooth kernels did by no means dif-
folve fo eafily in the fame Water ; they how-
ever at laft grew fpongy in this Water.
•• By examining the ftones myfelf, I found
that neither the white covers, nor the brown
nucleuses
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 1 39
nucleuses effervefcid, either with vitriolic
acid, or with fait of tartar.
<c On breaking fome of the hard brown ker-
nels, and obferving them with a microfcope,
1 found they had about their centre a fmall
fmooth cavity, in which, very probably, there
had been another original nucleus, though I
did not actually find it : or perhaps it flew
away, or broke by the blow, by which I broke
the brown kernel ; or perhaps it efcaped my
fight by its fmallnefs,
€t The fame phyfician cured alfo lately a
patient labouring under fevere rheumatic pains
in his hands and feet, accompanied with occa-
fional fwellings. Six bottles of the Aqua Me-
phitica Alkalina performed a complete cure.
I will now give you a fhort account of my
own cafe,
" After having pafTed, fince the year 1780
( when I returned to Vienna, after an excurfion
to France, Holland, and England), an almoft
conftant contemplative and fedentary life,
contrary to my former active manner of living,
I found myfclf at laft afflicted (being then at
Paris, 1788), almoft at the fame time, with
both
*4-0 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
the gout and the gravel. The pain begin-
ning in the left kidney, went down to the
bladder, where a ftone, half an inch long, and
onefixth part of an inch in diameter, remained
for fome days, and gave me very excruciating
pain, principally in making water. I at laft
got rid all at once of thefe ominous fymptoms,
by paffing the ftone without any difficulty or
ft rain. Soon after this period I began to pafs
now and then one or two fmall ftones, all very
hard, reddifh, and cryftallifed : my chamber-
pot was very often lined with a red fandy fur,
and I found myfelf at the fame time afflicted
with fymptoms of biliary concretions. I got
three or four times, in the fpace of three or
four months, the jaundice ; which was always
preceded by a very troublefome pain at the
upper part of the abdomen. I took the ad-
vice of feveral of my medical friends at Paris ;
but none gave me more fatisfa&ion than that
which I received from my old friend Count
Carbury, a very learned man, and who for
many years had been honoured with the place
of body-phyfician to their Royal Highne/Tes
the Count and Countefs d'Artois. He ad-
vifed me to take every morning, two hours
before riling, the exprefled juice of a whole
lemon, fweetencd with fugar or honey, and
mixed
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 141
mixed with about two chocolate-cups full
of warm veal or chicken broth.
" The Count mentioned to me feveral pa-
tients who were cured by this remedy, among
whom was the late Doge of Venice, to whom
it was prefcribed by the late celebrated Baron
Van Swieten. I continued the ufe of this
remedy for about eight months, and alfo took
daily about four or five ounces of honey. Al-
though I was not cured by the ufe of what
I have juft mentioned, yet as I had no return
of the moil painful and alarming fymptoms,
after having taken it fome time, I have reafon
to believe that it had fome faiutary effect in
checking the violence of fuch a complicated
indifpofition.
" I left off, indeed, with fome regret, the
ufe of the lemon-juice, when I began to take
the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina -, becaufe I had
fome degree of confidence in the remedy, and
partly becaufe it was to my palate the mofi
agreeable thing I ever tailed ; exciting, be-
fides its truly delicious tafle, a moft enchant-
ing fenfation when it reached the flomach,
which, like a true nepenthes Helena, pervaded
all my limbs, and produced a new and du-
rable
142 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
rable fenfation of the moft pleafurable kind,
and fuch as I could never have imagined wa3
poffible to take place. I am not, however,
certain that the fame fenfations would be
produced in every perfon by the fame means.
I continued, after this, the ufe of honey, but
in lefs quantity. The firft information I re-
ceived concerning the Aqua Mephitica Alka-
lina was at Rotterdam, in the month of
Odlober, 1789, from my friend Dr. Becket,
fecretary to the philofophical fociety of that
city ; a truly learned man, as well as an ex-
cellent and fuccefsful practitioner.
*' This gentleman lent me your book on
the fubjecft, and communicated to me feveral
cafes, in which the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina
had been fuccefsful.
" I proceeded foon after on my journey
to London \ having never been, fincc I firft
perceived any fymptoms of the flone, free,
during a whole month, from piffing fome
fmall gravel or fand, or from fome uneafinefs
or other that denoted a calculous difoc fition.
I was alarmed by new pains in the left kid-
ney, when, travelling between Harwich and
London, and the day after I arrived in that
metropolis,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I43
metropolis, I voided in the morning two fmall
ilones, very hard, and of a reddifh hue, and
compofed of mining cryftals. The next day
I found my chamber-pot lined with a red fur,
fharp to the touch.
" I went the fame day to viiit my old and
refpeclable friend Sir George Baker, phyfician
to the King, who, on being made acquainted
with my cafe, advifed me to begin immedi-
ately a trial of the Aqua Mephitica AlkaHna,
and gave me on the fpot a pint bottle oi it,
which he happened to have in his houfe. I
took immediately half of it, and the remainder
towards night, and ordered immediately fome
bottles to be fent to me from the mop to
which Sir George Baker directed me; and
have continued the ufe of it from that time to
this day, taking regularly, every day, one
drachm of fait of tartar, neutralized by Fixed
Air, as in the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina. I
take one half of my daily quantity about two
hours before I rife, and the remainder on go-
ing to bed ; and have the pleafure to inform
you, Sir, that, fince the very day I began
the ufe of this remedy, I have remained quite
free from every fymptom of that dreadful dif-
order.
" My
144 ®N THE EFFICACY OF THE
" My health, which was not a little im-
paired by fuch a complicated indifpofition,
has been conftantly improving ; I have had
no return of the gout, even in the fmalleit
degree, and during a whole year no fymptoms
of biliary concretions.
" After this account, you will readily be-
lieve, that among thofe who owe their hap-
pinefs and comfort to this remedy, and who
ought to manifefl a fincere gratitude towards
the benevolent inventor, I mud place myfelf
in the firft rank; and I fhould be unjuft if
I did not take this opportunity of acknow-
ledging publicly what is due to you, Sir,
as the principal and difinterefted promoter of
the ufe of this truly wonderful remedy.
" Before I finifli this letter, I will give you
fome account of a few cafes, to which I was
myfelf a witnefs.
" A man, eighty years old, a common la-
bourer, had been afflicted for the laft twenty
years with a calculous complaint in the blad-
der. Although he fuffered a great deal, he
had not been prevented from working fo
much as to procure him a livelihood, except
during
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 145
during the two laft years ; in which fpaca
of time he had remained almoft in continual
pain, efpecially when making water : arifing
from a frequent and almoft perpetual dif-
charge of land, fmall calculi, and (harp urine.
About the beginning of laft fummer he began
to take the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina, and
in a few weeks found fo much benefit from
it, that he could work again as before ; his
urine paiTed without trouble, and free from
any calculous concretions. The large ftone,
which he has ftill in his bladder, gives him
pain, only at intervals, and in certain fixa-
tions or poftures of his body. This cafe,
and fome others, which fell uridef my exa-
mination, have fuggefted to me a more pro-
bable reafon than the one ufually given, for
the great relief which perfons labouring under
the ftone in the bladder have experienced from
the ufe of the Cauftic Alkali, or the Aqua
Mephitica Alkalina, although the done re-
mained undiflblved in the bladder.
" It has been faid. by fome, that the ufe
of Alkaline fubftances (though experience has
(hewn fuch effect, to be contrary to their na-
ture) produced upon the farface of the ftone
a covering of mucus ; but I think it more
L rational
I46 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
rational to fuppofe, that Alkaline fubftances
produced this effect, by neutralifing the pre-
dominant acid acrimony of the urine, and
preventing the farther concretion of cal-
culus.
" A gentleman of my acquaintance, aged
about forty, was troubled with difficulty and
pain in making water, which was of fifteen
years ftanding ; the original caufe of which
was an inflammation and abfcefs in the proftate
gland from a venereal caufe : the difficulty in
making water increafed at times, fo as to
amount to a total fuppreflion, and greatly
endangered his life. A hollow bougie, which
however could not be introduced without
great difficulty and pain, faved him more
than once from death.
<c The principal feat of his pain was about
the neck of the bladder. An acid being dis-
covered to predominate in his urine, he was
advifed to the ufe of the Aqua Mephitica Al-
kalina ; this relieved him in a fhort time, fo
much as to enable him to pafs his water freely,
and with very little pain; though there is
no doubt but that the proftate gland remains
(till
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKA11NA. I47
ftill in a morbid (late. He perfeveres in the
ufe of the remedy.
" I can affure you, that among thofe who
have continued the ufe of the Aqua Mephitica
Alkalina for a long time together, I have not
obferved that any indifpofition whatever,
which could be afcribed with any degree of
probability to the ufe of the medicine, had
taken place. On the contrary, the digeftion
and ftrength of the patients, which in many
(among whom I may reckon myfelf) had been
impaired by long and fevere fufferings, have
been in general remarkably improved.
" Several cafes befides, in which a perfect
cure was obtained, in complaints of the cal-
culous kind, by the ufe of this remedy, have
been communicated to me in different letters,
fince I difperfed the information concerning
its efficacy upon the Continent, which I did
in two papers inferted in the two firft parts
of a new chymical journal, pubhihed in Hol-
land, and entitled, Sckeikundige Bibliotbeck.
But as the particular circumftances of thofe
cafes were not accurately defcribed, I can
only fay in general, that the ufe of this re-
medy prevails more and more abroad in pro-
L 2 portion
I48 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
portion to its becoming more known, and
its effe&s experienced. I leave you perfectly
at liberty to make what ufe you think proper
of this letter, and remain,
Yours, &c.
John Ingen-Housz."
Bat by November 25, 1791.
Many other accounts of the good fuccefs
of the remedy have been received both by Mr.
Colborne and by myfelf j but feveral of them
were fo fimilar to thofe already related, that
it was judged unneceilary to augment the
bulk of this pamphlet (perhaps already too
large) by the infertion of them, and others
were not permitted to be authenticated with
the names of the perfcns who had received
the benefit. It was at firft my intention to
infert none but fuch as had the name of the
perfon annexed, as a voucher for the truth of
the narrative : this, however, is departed
from in a few instances y but in thofe I can
tetlify that the accounts came from authority
that cannot be doubted, though it is not
permitted to be vouched.
I would
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I49
I would farther mention, that I have been
informed from the mod unqueftionable au-
thority, that the Mephitic Alkaline Water
has been of the greateft fervice in a cafe of
violent ftrangury, without any fufpicion of
calculus, which returned about every ten or
fourteen days. It prolonged the intervals to
feveral months, abated the violence of the
pain, and diminished the heat of the urine.
Left it fhould be alledged that the cafes
above recited, however truly and candidly
defcribed, may, notwithftanding, be a felec-
tion only from a number of others, in which
this preparation may have been found unfer-
viceable or hurtful, I think it neceffary to
allure the public, that no cafe has fallen
under my perfonal obfervation, wherein the
Mephitic Alkaline Water has appeared to be
in the fmalleft degree prejudicial ; nor have I
ever heard that it proved fo from the report
of others. One cafe only has occurred to me,
wherein it was of no fervice whatfoever ; and
in this the principal fymptom was a frequent
and painful urging to pais the urine, which
came away in fmall quantities, but with little
alteration in colour, fave that a few fpecks
of blood were fometimes vifible, but no
L 3 gravel
l$0 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
gravel or mucus. As this feemed to be
owing to the acrimony of the urine, the
Mephitic Alkali.' Water was advifed ; but
it was not fuccefsrul, though it no ways ag-
gravated the complaint.
EXPERT-
I
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 151
EXPERIMENTS.
On thefohent Effects of the Alkaline Solution,
faturated with Fixible Air.
By Benjamin Colborne, Efq.
A FRAGMENT of a calculus, of an
ochrous colour, and rough on the outfide
like a mulberry, weighing fifty-one grains,
was put into about two ounces and a half of
the Mephitic Alkaline Solution, and corked
up. After two days {landing, the foluticn
was poured off, and a frefh portion put on ;
and this was repeated every day, or every
other day, for thirty-one days fucceffively.
At the end of that time the ftone was again
weighed, and found to have loll thirty-fix
grains of its original weight.
Another fragment of the fame calculus,
weighing 41 grains, treated in the fame man-
ner, loft in thirty-feven days thirty-two
grains.
Another
I52 OxM THE EFFICACY OF THE
Another fragment of the fame, weighing
fifty-four grains, treated as above-mentioned,
loft in tail . ihirty-two grains.
Another fragment of a calculus, of a light
ochrous colour, and clofe texture, weighing
forty -one grains, loft by the fame treatment,
in thirty-three days, eleven grains only.
A fmooth white calculus was fawn into
two pieces, one of which, weighing 29 grains,
was put into the aj folutioft, but im-
perfectly faturated with fixible air ; the
other, weighing twenty grains, was put into
an equal quantity of the folution perfectly
faturated : after {landing twenty-eight days,
the firft had loft fix grains; the ether eight
grains.
A human calculus was divided into four
parts ; the firft, No. I. weighing twenty
grains, was put into the faturated alkaline
folution, made of the common fait of tartar
ofth-hhops; the fecond, No. II. weighing
nineteen grains, was put into a iimilar folu-
tion made with a proportionable quantity of
the oleum tartari per deliquium; the third,
No. III. weighing 18 grains, was put into
an alkaline folution made with fait of tartar,
procured
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 153
procured from Apothecaries Hall ; and the
fourth, No. IV. weighing 18 grains, into
an alkaline folution made with the cauftic
lixivium, neutralized by means of fixible
air, and as nearly as poffible of the fame
ftrength with the others. After ftanding 45
days, No. I. had loft 13 grains; No. II. 13
grains; No. III. 14 grains; and No. IV. 11
grains. *
A piece of calculus, weighing 51 grains,
put into the neutralized alkaline folution,
made with lixiv. tartari, loft in 18 days 29
grains.
Another piece, weighing 56 grains, put
into an alkaline folution made with foffil
alkali in the fame proportion, and neutra-
lized in like manner, loft in i3 days 13 J*
grains.
Another piece, weighing $5 grains, put
into a neutralized folution made with fait of
tartar, loft in 18 days 11 grains.
Another
* JV. B. Thefe different alkalies were tried, to dis-
cover if one alkali had a greater power than another.
154 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
Another piece of calculus, weighing 41
grains, put into a neutralized alkaline folu-
tion, loft in 31 days 30 grains.
Another piece, weighing 49 grains, put
into a neutralized folution made with fait of
tartar, loft only four grains in the fame time.
A piece of calculus, weighing 56 grains,
was put into a neutralized folution made with
foffil alkali: in 31 days it loft 18 grains.
Another piece that weighed 64 grains, put
into a folution of only half the ftrength,
made with lixiv. tartari, loft in 31 days 42
grains.
The calculi above mentioned were cor-
roded in holes like a worm-eaten piece of
wood, but externally preferved their original
figure, till they all at la ft fell to pieces.
ADD I.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I5£
ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS-
By the Same.
Experiment I.
Odtober 16, 1786. A fragment of a hard,
clofe- grained human calculus, weighing fifty-
five grains, was put into a large wide-mouthed
vial, and upon it was poured daily the firffc
urine that was pafied, after taking a dofe of
the Mepbitic Alkaline Water, by a perfon
that was in a courfe of taking it every day.
The vial was fet in a moderately cool place,
and the urine regularly changed.
Lois of
Weight of the
Weight.
Remaifldei .
From the 16th of O&ober to
Nov. 16, it loft - - -
2gr.
53 gr-
From Nov. 16, to Dec. 16
7gr-
46 gr.
From Dec. 16 ^1786), to Jan.
16 (1787 J - - - -
10 gr.
3<?gr-
From Jan. 16, to Feb. 16.
10 gr.
26 gr.
From Feb. 16, to March 16
4gr.
22 gr.
From March 16, to April 16
4gr-
18 gr.
ExPERI-
«S6
ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
Experiment II,
Lois ot
Weight.
Weight ot the
Remainder.
0
0
45 gr-
55 gr-
Another fragment of the fame calculus was
put into a wide-mouthed vial, and upon it
was poured every day the urine of a healthy
perfon who never had any figns of gravel, and
who was not in the habit of taking any medi-
cine whatever. The calculus weighed, when
the urine was firft put upon it, 45 grains.
From October 16, 1786, to
Nov. 16 - - - - -
From November 16, to De-
cember 16 - - - -
About the latter end of December, the
urine was neglefted to be changed, and the
fame urine remained upon the calculus until
January 26th, in which time the fluid had
become more foetid and alkaline. The cal-
culus had, during this time, fallen into three
pieces, and had loft in weight ten grains.
From that time the urine was changed regu-
larly every day. On the twenty-fixth of Ja-
nuary s the fragments of the above calculus
v ed 35 grains.
From
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I57
Lofs of
Weight of the
Weight.
Remainder.
From January 26, to Feb.
26 -
0
Gain of
35 gr-
From February 26, to March
Weight.
*6
gr. ifs.
36i gr'
From March 26, to April
26
2f gr.
til gr-
Experiment III.
January 24th, 1787, an entire calculus, of
a white colour, and fixty grains in weight,
was put into a wide -mouthed vial, and on it
was poured every day fome of the urine of a
perfon who was in the Habit of taking the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water in the fame manner as
is mentioned in Experiment I. and the urine
renewed daily. In thefpace of two months, the
calculus was diminifhed in weight eight grains,
and in another month the whole diminution
was twenty-five grains. The laminae that
form the calculus alfo began to feparate ; and
it appeared, that the adlion of the folvent had
penetrated much deeper in one part than ano-
ther.
Expe-
158 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
Experiment IV.
A fragment of another very hard red cal-
culus, which weighed fifty-four grains, was
treated in the fame manner, and for the fame
time as in the laft Experiment. It loft in that
fpace of time feventeen grains.
Obfervations on the Symptoms attending Per-
Jons afflicted with Calculus, and on the Ef-
fects of the Mephitic Alkaline Water.
By the Same.
Urine in general will change paper ftained
with juice of turnfoletoa red colour, which
will be permanent; but the urine which is
firft made after taking the Mephitic Alkaline
Water, in thofe perfons who have taken it for
fome time, will change the turnfole paper to a
blue colour. This will take place even if the
the Mephitic Alkaline Water be taken not
more than a quarter of an hour before thedif-
charge of the urine.
If the Mephitic Alkaline Water be faturated
with fixible air, it will not produce any im-
mediate
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. l£9
mediate change on the turnfole paper ; but
after a fhort expofure to the air, the paper
will become blue, as the fuperabundant quan-
tity of fixible air flies off.
The urine of almoft every perfon in health,
if fufFered to remain for twenty-four hours in
the chamber-pot, forms more or lefs incruft-
ation on the bottom and fides. This, how-
ever, I believe, never takes place in the urine
of thofe who are in the habit of taking daily
a competent dofe of the Mephitic Alkaline
Water.
The urine of people fubjecT: to the ftone or
gravel is generally of an acid quality, and will
then turn paper, ftained with the juice of
turnfole, to a reddifh colour; and if fo, the
perfon generally finds relief by the ufe of the
Alkaline Water. But, if the urine turns the
paper blue, it is moftly fcetid and putrefcent :
in fuch cafes the Alkaline Water will take
oft the factor, and abate the general fymp-
toms, but muft not be depended on for a
perfect cure.
Perfons fubjecT: to the ftone or gravel, ought
accurately to obferve the ftate of their cham-
ber-pot,
I50 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
ber-pot, whether it keeps free of fur, or other
adhefion to its bottom and fides j this being
the principle criterion by which the increafe
or amendment of the complaint can be afcer-
tained.
If no difcolouration of the vefTel appears
after the urine has itood in it for fome time,
and particularly if the urine clears away any
former adhefion, we may reftaffured the urine
is of a proper kind ; but if the fides of the
vefTel grow foul, and-^this foulnefs accumu-
lates, it indicates a ftate of the urine that tends
to produce or increafe calculus.
Six or eight ounces by meafure of the Me*
phitic Alkaline Water, taken daily, will be
found fufficient to keep the urine in a proper
ftate by the generality of poeple •> others may
require double that quantity.
The effect of the Mephitic Alkaline Water
in diffolving the incruftations formed by the
urine, affords a ftrong prefu^ption in favour of
its diffolving power on the calculus ; therefore
whoever voids any calculous fragments during
the time of drinking the Mephitic Alkaline
Water, has great reafon to think that they
are
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALlNA. l6l
are parts of an old concretion mouldering
away, provided however a fuffieient quantity
of the remedy be taken to prevent any fur
Concreting on the chamber-pot.
As the Alkaline Mephitic Water is fo effi-
cacious in obviating the acrimony of the urine,
it feems likely to be of fervice if given imme-
diately after the operation of lithotomy has
been performed ; as it is well known that the
healing of the wound is often much retarded
by the irritation of that difcharge, which is
more likely to be troublefome in this way, at
it is in its own nature more acrimonious.
Schirrofities of the os uteri and of the pro-
ftate glands, by retarding the palTage of the
urine, often produce fymptoms fimilar to thofe
that arife from calculus. One difference how-
ever may be remarked, which is, that people
who have fuch fchirri, bear the motion of a
carriage or of a horfe better than is done by
thofe who have calculus -, and if they void
mucus, it generally comes away with thelaft
drops of their urine, and the pain they feel
lafts in much the fame degree, during the
whole of the time the urine is paffing, which
is feldom the cafe in calculous complaints; as
M the
l62 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
the pain in them is generally mod acute, juft
as the laft drops are difcharging.
People who have ulcers in the urethra at-
tended with ftridhire, generally void purulent
matter previous to the coming away of the
urine, which laft, by being long retained,
fometimes caufes abfceffes in the perinaeum
and fuppreffions of urine.
I have known perfons, of both fexes, ad-
vanced in life, complain for many years of
frequent urgings to make water, which comes
away by little at a time, and is generally of a
wheyifh appearance, and, after ftanding twenty-
four hours, depoiits a large mucous fediment,
Sometimes a fuppreffion takes place. All the
cafes of this kind in which the Mephitic Al-
kaline Water was tried, found more or lefs
relief, one only excepted, which on exami-
nation proved to be a fchirrus of the os uteri*
In violent paroxyfms of the ftone or ftran-
gury, I have advifed the ufe of opiates com-
bined writh the Mephitic Alkaline Water.
Fifteen or twenty drops of the thebaic tindlure
may be taken in a quarter of a pint of the
water, and occafionally repeated, A bag of
oats
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 163
oats heated in boiling water, I have experi-
enced to be a convenient and fafe method of
applying a fomentation to the os pubis, and
what generally gives eafe. A clyfter alfo of
two ounces of olive oil, and forty drops of the
thebaic tincture, may be injected and retained
for feveral hours. If never thelefs the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water mould prove two fti-
mulant to be repeated during the fit, which
feldom happens, barley-water with gum ara-
bic, may be fubftituted in its place; and
when the pain has fubfided, recourfe may
again be had to the Mephitic Alkaline Water.
The following Experiments were made by myfelf
on the fame fubjetl.
Two calculi of a fimilar appearance, of a
whitifti colour with a pink tinge, and of fuch
a confiftence as to be eaiily fcratched with the
point of a knife, the one weighing five grains,
and the other two grains and a half, were put
into fix ounces of the alkaline folution, as
above; in 38 days, during which time the
folution was changed fix times, they were di-
minifhed in weight five grains and a half, but
the apparent fize was little lefs than at firft;
M 2 they
164 ON THE EFFICACY OF TH'ft
I
they were however fo friable as to fall to pieces
on flight touching.
Two other (mall calculi, iimilar in appear-
ance to the others, and both weighing fix
grains and a half, were treated in the fame
manner. In 38 days they were both of a fcaly
appearance on the outlide, and of a hollow
worm-eaten texture within, and withal fo
fhivery, as to fall to pieces on flight preffure.
The pink tinge on the outfide was much di-
minished, but was retained within. The
weight was only gr. 1 fs. fo that they had
loft 5 grains.
Six fmall calculi, Iimilar to this foregoing,
and weighing gr. iv\ fs. were treated as above.
In 38 days they had loft three grains and three-
fourths, and were fo fragile as to fall to pow-
der on being touched.
COM-
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 165
COMPARATIVE TABLE
Of the folvent Power of the Alkaline Solution,
faturated with Fixed Air, with Water
Jimply impregnated with Fixed Air.
Mr. Colborne's Experiments with the Me-
phitic Alkaline Water.
Original weight
Time they
conti-
Weight loft Dy
of the calculi.
nued immerfed.
the calculi.
51 grains.
3*
days
36 grains.
41
37
32
54
13
32
41
33
1 1
20
28
11
51
18
29
55
18
1 1
4i
31
3°
49
.31
4
64
31
42
Mr, Colborne's Experiments with the Urine
of a Perfon who was taking the Mephitic
Alkaline Water.
Original weight 1 Time they
of the calculi. 1 nued immi
conti-
=rfed.
1
Weight loll by
the calculi.
55 grains. 1182 days
60 90
54 19°
M 3
37 grains-
2 5
•7
Expe-
i66
ON THE EFFICACY OF TH2
Experiments I made myfelf with the
Mephitic Alkaline Water.
Original weight jTime they conti-
of the calculi. , hucd t-nmerfed,
7^ grains
'6l
\±2 days,
48
U8
Weight loft by
the calculi.
54. grains,
Experiments made by Dr. Percival on the
diflblvent power of Water, fimply impreg-
nated with Fixible Air, on human Calculi.
See Percival's works, Vol. II L
Original weight
of the calculi.
Time they conti-
nued immerfed.
Weight loft by
the caiculi.
i ^2 grams.
l6Si
I26J-
63'
2 days.
2
2
2
2-i grains.
1 1
Expe-
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 167
Experiments I myfelf made on the folvent
power of Water, limply impregnated with
Fixible Air, upon human Calculi.
See Experiments and Obfervations on Fixible
Air, London, printed 1776.
Orio-inal weight
of the calculi.
6 grains.
7
5
rime they conti-
nued immerfed.
1 5 days,
31
31
31
Weight loft by
the calculi.
44- grains,
4.
[2%
EXPERIMENTS
On the antifeptic Qualities of the Alkaline So.
lut ion fat urate d with Fixible Air.
Three pieces of lean mutton, a drachm
each in weight, were, on Dec. 21, 1784, fe-
verally put into eight ounces of fpring water,
into the fame quantity of water faturated with
Fixible Air, and into the fame quantity of
the Alkaline Solution, and all clofely corked
up, and placed in a room wherein a conftant
M 4 fir
i68
ON THE EFFICACY OF THS
fire was kept. The weather being very cold,
no change was perceived for feveral days.
On Dec. 20, the vial with the fimple wa-
ter began to look cloudy, but fcarcely any
fmell was perceivable.
The others continued clear and fweet.
On Jan. 2d, 1785, the fmell was more
perceivable, but ftill faint, in the vial with
fimple water; feme little of a mufty fmell
was perceivable in the vial with water fatu-
rated with Fixible Air ; but the Mephitic
Alkaline Solution ftill continued free of fmell,
and the fluid clear.
Jan. 3d. The vial with the fimple water
had acquired a fmell evidently putrid. That
with the water fimply with Fixible Air had
the mufty fmell much increafed. That with
the Mephitic Alkaline Solution was perfectly
fweet.
EXPE-
AC^TA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. l6(J
EXPERIMENTS
\to determine the comparative Quantity of Fixi-
ble Air contained in Salt of Tartar, and
in a proportionable Quantity of the Mephitic
Alkaline Water.
Experiment I.
Two ounces, by meafure, of the Mephitic
Alkaline Water were put into a vial about
three ounces contents, and exadtly counter-
poifed in a nice balance. This with the cor-
refponding weight being fet afide, I mixed
forty drops of oil of vitriol with one oun^e,
by meafure, of water, and counterpoifed that
^lfo, together with the vial that contained it.
I then added the acid fluid to the Alkaline,
drop by drop, until all efFervefcence ceafed ;
after which, I again weighed both the vials
with their refpeftive contents.
The acid liquor had loft one hundred and
fixty-feven grains and the Alkaline had gained
only one hundred and fifty-eight ; £o that nine
grains of air were diffipated. Hence it appears,
that fifteen grains of Salt of Tartar in folution,
was capable of containing nine grains of Fix-
ible Air, which, if wefuppofe Fixible Air to
be
\J0 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
be in weight to common air as three are to two,
amount to about thirteen ounce meafures.
Experiment II.
Twenty grains of dry Salt of Tartar were
put into a vial, and accurately counterpoifed,
as was another vial containing diluted vitriolic
acid; I dropped the acid upon the alkali
untilalleffervefcenceceafed. On weighing each
of them again, the acid was found to have loft
fifty-three grains, and the alkali to have
gained forty-feven and a half — difference, five
grains and a half. The dry Salt of Tartar
therefore appears not to be half faturated with
Fixible Air, being in this refped to that con-
tained in the Mephitie Alkaline Water, as
eleven to twenty- four.
According to Dr. Dobfon's Experiments
on this * fubje£t, the Salt of Tartar he ufed
contained a fmaller proportion of Fixible Air
than that here employed, two drachms being
computed by him to contain only twenty-eight
grains of Fixible Air, whereas, in the above
experiments, that quantity is reckoned to con-
tain thirty- three grains.
RE-
* See his Medical Commentary.
REMARKS UPON,
AND v
INFERENCES FROM,
THE FOREGOING
CASES and EXPERIMENTS.
HP H E Cafes above related, which are all
defcribed, either by the parties them-
felves, or from the accounts of profeffional
perfons who attended them, whofe veracity
is unqueftionable, will no doubt have their
due weight with the reader.
Cafe I. exhibits an inftanceofa complete
cure performed on a perlbn confiderably paft
the meridian of life, who had been for eigh-
teen years afflicted in the moft grievous man-
ner with this complaint, and who had tried
almoft all the boafted remedies, without their
affording any abatement of his fufferings, and
with manifeft injury to his general health.
In this inftance, the Mephitic Alkaline Water
feems not only to have proved a fpecific re-
medy
\*]1 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
medy for the calculous complaint ; but alfo
to have repaired, to a degree far fuperior to
what could have been expected, the injuries
done to the conftitution both by the fatigue
and diftrefs incident to the diforder, and by
the violent remedies which were ufed previous
to his becoming acquainted with the efficacy
of the Mephitic Alkaline Water. Time,
the only teft of truft, in fuch inftances, feems
to have afcertained the fact of his recovery
beyond any poflibility of doubt. Upwards
of thirteen years have now elapfed fince he
began to make trial of this remedy, and du-
ring that time he has had no other interrup-
tion of eafe than what might, as clearly as we
can trace any occurrence in medical practice,
be afcribed to the omiffion of the remedy be-
fore the tendency of the fyftem to generate
calculus was fubdued. That time, however,
appears to be now arrived, as far as fuch a
thing can be determined ; he having been
able to lay afide the ufe of the remedy for
feveral months together, without enduring
any fymptoms of his former complaint, which
had before recurred with confiderable vio-
lence on a much fhorter interruption. I am
happy, that at the interval of three years I
am able to repeat the account given in the
laft
AQ1JA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I73
laft edition of this work of Mr. Colborne's
ftate of health. That gentleman's appetite,
ftrength, complexion, and fpirits, bear the
fullefl teftimony to the innocence, if not to
the good effe&s of the Aqua Mephitica Alka-
lina on the health in general ; and the returns
of the gout, to which he is conftitutionally
fubjeft, have not been more frequent or
violent than what might appear to be natural;
nor has this difeafe attacked any of the vital
organs, or caufed any contraction or fwelling
of his limbs, the perfedt ufe of which he
now fully enjoys.
Cafe II. not only confirms the accounts
of the efficacy of the remedy, in relieving
the painful fymptoms, but affords the greateft
urefumption that it poflefTes qualities of a
highly folvent nature.
Mrs. Southcole had difcharged numerous
calculi, and feveral of a fize to give exqui-
fite pain in their paflage, and had the greatefl;
reafon to think, from her own fenfations,
that one remained behind too large to pafs ;
yet on a careful examination of her body,
after her deceafe, which laft was occafioned
by a difeafe altogether unconnected with cal-
culus,
174 0N ^HE EFFICACY OF THE
cuius, no calculus was found either in the
kidneys or bladder, both of which were found
to be in a perfectly found ftate ; a circum-
ftance fcarcely to have been expected, even
fuppofing no calculus to have been prefent,
if we reflect on the dreadful fufferings which
fhe had formerly undergone from the difeafed
ftate of thofe organs.
Cafe III. requires very little comment,
as it exhibits a full and even minute account
of a complete recover}7, from as painful a
ftate as we can well conceive to exift. It is
worthy remark here, that the tendency
of the fyftem to generate calculus feems
nearly, if not altogether, fubdued, as appears
from his being now able to intermit with im-
punity the ufe of the Alkaline Water for a
long time together.
Cafe IV. is a notable inftance both of the
efficacy and innocence of the remedy, and in-
dicates, as well as the foregoing cafes, that
the tendency to generate calculus may, by the
long continued ufe of the Alkiilina Water, be
fubdued.
Cafe V. is a remarkable example of the
powers
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I^J
powers of the Mephitic Alkaline Water, in
a habit of body ftrongly difpofed both to ge-
nerate and to accumulate calculous concre-
tion.
Cafe VI. evinces in the moft fatisfa&ory
manner the fafety, as well as the efficacy, of
the remedy. A perfon of 84 years of age
commenced its ufe, and continued it for three
years without the fmalleft inconvenience to
his health, and with the general alleviation
of all his complaints.
Cafe VII. is an inftance of the fpeedy
relief which is afforded by the ufe of this re-
medy, and of its actually poiTeiiing powers
of diffolving the calculus, or at kafc of di-
minishing the cohcfion of its parts.
Cafe VIII. is a remarkable inftance of
relief being gained, when the organs that fe-
crete and tranfmit the urine were probably
in a very difeafed ftate. Though no cure was
alledged to be performed, and indeed not, in
all probability, was any cure poffible to be
effected by any means; the fymptoms that
had been the moft diftreffing, particularly the
fodtor of the urine, were fo much abated as to
give
Ij6 ON THE EFFICACY OF THIu
give little uneafinefs in companion with whaf
had been before endured. Had the remedy
been difcovered earlier, it is probable, from
the effects mentioned to be produced by it in
Cafes XVI. and XXVII. that it might have
wrought a perfect cure*
Cafe IX. is an inftance where a great
temporary advantage was gained ; but his
complaint proving at laft to be an ulcer of
the bladder, no unlikely thing to take place,
after a repetition of the operation of litho-
tomy, the Alkaline Water, though it afforded
much alleviation, was unable to work a
cure.
Cafe X. proves that in fome cafes a very
weak folution of the Alkaline Salt, and taken
but in fmall dofes, may prove an efficacious
remedy, even in a cafe wherein all the fymp-
toms were of the moft painful and urgent
kind.
Cafes XI. XII. XIII. XIV. afford the
moft fatisfa&ory proofs of benefit received in
fuch diforders; but are nowife particular,
fave that in one of them (Cafe XII) all the
uneafy fymptoms were removed, although
4 there
AQUA MEPMIT1CA ALKALINA. 1JJ
there was every reafon to think that a calculus
remained.
Cafe XV. affords a remarkable proof of
the efficacy of the Mephitic Alkaline Water,
in a complaint of the urinary paflages refcm-
bling calculus, which was originally owing
to external violence.
Cafe XVI. Theperfon whofe cafe is here
defcribed, appears to have laboured under a
highly difeafed ftate of the urinary paflages,
and perhaps of the fecreting organs ; yet thefe
complaints have been totally removed, and
the general ftate of health, as we have every
reafon to think, much improved.
Cafe XVII. is in a good meafure fimilar
to that immediately preceding.
Cafe XVIII. This cafe varies from moft
of the others, in that the relief gained thereby
was flower acquired than in the others.
The cure neverthelefs appears to have been
as complete and as permanent as could pof-
fibly be expected ; a circumftance fomewhat
(at firft fight) extraordinary, at fo advanced
N a period
I78 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
a period of life, were it not inftanced in
other cafes. An important practical caution
refults from the confideration of this cafe,
which is, that thofe fo afflicted mould not
defpair of relief, and even of cure, even
though the painful fymptoms mould not
abate fo foon with them as they appear to
have done in moft of the hiflories here re-
lated.
Had the gentleman who is the fubject of
the narrative here under confideration, not
been pcffeffed of great patience and fteadinefs,
he would have failed of a cure, and his cafe
might have been adduced as an inftance of an
unfuccefsful trial of the remedy.
Cafe XIX. is a fair inftance both of the
efficacy and innocence of the remedy; but
affords occafion for no particular remark, fave
what had been before obferved, that an ad-
vanced age is no objection, even in the
fmalleft degree, to the trial of the Alkaline
Water.
Cafe XX. befides exhibiting an inftance
of the greateft relief being afforded in a truly
calculous cafe, mews alfo that the Alkaline
Water
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. Ijg
Water poffeffes a power of diffolving cal-
culus.
Cafe XXI. affords a fatisfa&ory inftance
of the efficacy of this remedy, after moil of
the things ufually admhiiftered (foap lees r.ar-
ticularly) had been tried without affording
even temporary relief. The benefit this gen-
tleman has received does not appear to have
been influenced or obftructed by change of
climate, fea voyages, or the attention requi-
fite to an adtive military employment.
Cafe XXII. contains nothing particularly
worthy notice, fave the fhortnefs of the time
in which relief was procured.
Cafe XXIII. This cafe, as well as the
foregoing, was communicated by Perry, an
eminent furgeon of this city. It fhews in the
moft fatisfadlory manner that the Alkaline
Water poffeffes a power of diffolving urinary
calculus. What degree of a lithontriptic
it is endued with, does not appear; but we are
informed that the folution of the calculus
took place in lefs than twelve months.
It feems highly probable from the la ft ac-
N 2 count,
l8o ON THE trriCACY OF THE
count, which ftates that the patient has con-
tinued well, notwithstanding his leaving off
the Alkaline Water for three years, although
the whole time he ufed it did not exceed one
year, that the difpofition to generate calculus
is fooner overcome by this remedy in young
fubjects than in thofe who are farther ad-
vanced in life.
Cafe XXIV. fhews the efficacy of the
Aqua Mephitica Alkalina, in a complaint
evidently arifing from the nature, and pro-
bably from the ftimulant qualities of the
urine.
The repeated good effects that followed
the taking the medicine, and the return of
the complaint on its being laid afide, amount
to as full proof that fuch relief was owing to
the remedy, as the fubject is capable of af-
fording.
Cafe XXV. which the reader can fcarcely
fail of obferving to be drawn up with great
accuracy and propriety, is a notable inftance
of the efficacy of the remedy, which does not
appear to have been weakened in its efficacy,
or to have had the benefit arifing from its
ufe,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 1 8l
ufe, protracted by the exercife of travelling,
both on htorfeback and in a carriage, which
was neceflary in an active bufinefs.
Cafe XXVI. is perfectly fatisfa&ory with
refpedf, to the benefit received in a very fevere
complaint of the calculous kind, which ap-
pears to have been hereditary in the family.
Cafe XXVII. is of a diforder of the urinary
paflages, attended with great pain and ftric-
ture, probably fome difeafe of the proftate
gland, but probably without any formed cal-
culus. This cafe feems to evidence clearly,
that the pain was caufed by the acrimony of
the urine, and the difeafe kept up, and pro-
bably produced at firft by it. When this
acrimony, which evidently appears to have
been of the acid kind, was neutralized by
the Alkaline Water, both the pain and ftric-
ture abated, and returned when that was
omitted.
This cafe is important, as it proves that the
Alkaline Water is capable of giving perma-
nent relief, if not of effecting a cure, which
is very probable, in complaints of the urinary
paflages, not proceeding from calculus, pro-
N 3 vided
182 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
vided a trial be made before any irreparable
injury be done to the parts.
Cafe XXVIII. is a very circumftantial nar-
rative of the cafe of a gentleman well known
in the medical world, and who is now far
advanced in life. The cafe is evidently cal-
culous ; and the efficacy of the Mephitic
Alkaline Water is proved beyond a doubt, by
the abfence of the painful fymptoms during
its ufe, and their recurrence when it was laid
afide.
The laft Cafe here adduced, is that of Dr.
Ingen-houfz, contained in a letter to me from
that gentleman, which contains many inte-
refting remarks on its nature and efficacy,
not only in calculous cafes, but in other
d'forders in which no trial has been made
of it in. this country that I know of. I am
peculiarly gratified in being able to confirm
from my perfonal acquaintance the account
this learned and worthy phyfician gives of
his own ftataof health, which feems as happy
as an advanced life feems capable of enjoying.
It mult afford comfortable reflections to per-
fons afflicted with calculous diforders, to iind
from the above Cafes, that, although the
Aqua
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 1 83
Aqua Mephitica Alkalina undoubtedly has a
power of difiblving the calculus, and thereby
ftriking at the root of the complaint; yet,
that relief may be expe&ed before any material
diffolution of the calculus can take place, and
even whilft we know it is actually fubfifting.
Several of the Cafes fhew this, which can only
be afcribed to the change produced by the re-
medy in the nature and qualities of the urine
itfelf.
It is obferved of this difcharge, that in cal-
culous paroxyfms, efpecially if accompanied
with great pain, it is almoft always cauftic and
irritating, like other fluids fecreted from in-
flamed parts. The mucus of the nofe, which
is in general mild and bland, becomes fre-
quently, by a catarrhous inflammation of the
veffels that fecrete it, fo acrid, as to excoriate
thofe parts of the nofe and lips upon which it
falls. A fimilar change takes place in the
urine, which, under fuch circumflances, ge-
nerally feels fcalding and painful to the duds
through which it paffes ; and this irritation
conftitutes no fmall part of the mifery of the
fuflferers.
I would not, however, by any means deny
that the mechanical action of calculous fub-
N 4 ftances
1S4 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
ccs is cften fufficient to caufe great pain.
Experience proves that this is frequently the
cafe ; but it is equally certain, that large cal-
culi both of the kidneys and bladder have
remained there many years with little trouble
or uneafinefs, and that even the pain produced
by paffing them is by no means proportioned
to their fize. A pretty large concretion, com-
pared with the diameter of the urinary dufts,
is mentioned, in one of the Cafes above reci-
ted, to be difcharged without pain ; whilft
oth:rs of a lefs bulk were often accompanied,
in their paflage, with great torture, and large
efxufions of blood.
The particles of find, that come away, are
often too inconfiderable to caufe the uneafinefs
that is e^v; sliced, were not the membranes
that line the duds in a ftate of inflammation,
and conftant irritability. This acrimonious
condition of the urine is almoft conftantly ac-
companied with a difpofition to precipitation.
Hence the turbid r.ppcaranc. rge
in fuch paroxyfms, which the furkrers often
vainly flatter themfelves to be the crifis of
their diforder, when in reality it is no more
than an indication of its prevalence. Both
thefe circumftances the faturated alkaline io-
lution
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 185
hit ion is very efficacious in removing, neutra-
lizing as it were the acrimony of the urine,
andreftorin^ to it, together with its natural
colour, its power of retaining in perfect folu-
tion thofe fubftances which it was intended
by nature to difcharge.
Another circumftance much in favour of a
trial of this remedy, is, that it acts without
any violence of operation. The fir ft effects,
obferved in all the inftances above related,
feem to have been the abatement of the pain
and uneafinefs, and the reftoration of the urine
to its natural colour and other properties. It
is found to act but mildly as a ftimulus on the
urinary fecretion ; and though in one cafe it
may appear to have exerted fome aperient
effect, this was fo inconfid'erable as to render;
it a matter of doubt if it was to be imputed to
the qualities of the medicine, or to the taking
in an additional quantity of watery fluid, which,
it is well known, will often produce that
effect- It no where appears to have injured
the appetite, digefcion, or general health. It
has mamrdled no leptic qualities in itfelf, nor
produced any upon the fyftem ; nay, thofe
which took place from the uie of the cauftic
alkaline lixivium, ceafed during the trial of
4 this
l86 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
this remedy. The perfons I have feen, who
tried it, have exemplified its innocence refpect-
ing the general health, as ftrongly as its par-
ticular efficacy in this complaint.
It appears that the ufe of this medicine is
not neceffary to be fuperfeded by flight indif-
pofitioris. It has been taken in place of the
common faline draught, and no very obferv-
able difference found in the effect; and one
of the Cafes fliews, that it may be continued,
without any apparent injury, during the courfe
of a common gouty paroxfym.
I Would not, however, affert, that the in-
difcriminate ufe of this remedy is admifiible
in all ftates of health. The quantity may often
be an objection to fome; the tafte may prove
difagreeable, and perhaps in fome complaints
ough I know of none at prefent) it may be
fpecifically injurious. Experience, joined with
prudence, is the only guide we have to direct
i fuch circumftaaces.
But although I think it probable, that the
principal advantage derived from this remedy
is owing to the change it produces in the
urine ; yet the experiments fhew, that it pof-
feffes
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 1 87
feiTes confiderable powersasa folvent of the
calculus. That its efficacy in this point of view
may be compared with that of water limply
impregnated with Fixible Air, I have formed
the foregoing comparative table of their effects
refpectively. The difference in their folvent
powers is inconliderable ; whilft the operation
of the alkaline faturated folution is much
milder, and, as I think, of a different kind
from that of thefimple impregnation of water
with Fixed Air.
From examination of the effects of the two
menftrua, it fhould feem that the a&ion of the
latter was principally upon the animal gluten or
mucus that connected the fandy particles, which
it gradually difunited, until they fell into pow-
der; whereas, from the corroded and worm-
eaten appearance of the calculi immerfed in
the alkaline folution, the fandy particles them-
felves feem to have been acted upon. How
this is brought about, is matter of difficult
investigation.
From Bergman's experiments, it appears,
that the acid of fugar and calcareous earth,
which probably form the ftony part of the
calculus, bear a ftronger ^attraction to one
another
1 8S ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
another than any body does feparately to either;
fo that the addition of no fimple fubftance, at
leaft any that we can introduce into the body,
will feparate them. But we fhould confider,
that many bodies are capable of decompofition
by a double ele&ive attraction, that are not fo
by any other means. Thus vitriolate tartar
may be decompofed by folution of fiiver,
though neither of the feparate ingredients
would have any effedt. This may poffibly
take place here, the alkaline fait attracting the
acid of the fugar, and the Fixible Air the calca-
reous earth ; and as the former of thefe com-
pounds is foluble in a watery fluid, and the lat-
ter fo when the Fixible Air is redundant, this
may account for the clearnefs of the urine, and
its freedom from precipitation, which the ta-
king this remedy induces. The compound of
the acid of fugar with calcareous earth is
fcarcely foluble in water.
I make no doubt that the change in the
qualities of the urine may be in part owing to
the fame caufe. It is true, the faline fubftance
formed by the union of the acid of fugar with
calcareous earth, does net appear very acrimo-
nious to the fenfesj but we fhould confider, that
our fenfes are very imperfect judges of fpecific
ftimuli.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 189
ftimuli. Tartarifed antimony and calomel,
whofe operation on the ftomach and bowels is
fo violent, betray no fuch effects in their fen-
fible qualities; and we frequently find that
clear, pale, and infipid urine is retained with
greater difficulty than what appears much more
faline and acrimonious. It is poffible that
this compound may poffefs fome fpecific fti-
mulus on the bladder and urinary organs.
The alkaline folution has exerted various
degrees of a folvent power upon the different
calculi; fome refilling its operation more than
others ; but none have totally withftood its
influence. This difference may be owing to
feveral caufes -, fuch as the calculus having re-
mained expofed a longer time to the air, which
increafes its hardnefs, as it does that of feveral
kinds of ftone; its having been flower or
quicker produced ; or its containing a different
proportion of animal mucus ; and probably
other circumstances, which we do not at pre-
fent, and perhaps never may, underftand.
It appears pretty plain, I think, that diu-
retic remedies, merely as fuch, have no good
effects in calculous complaints. Independent
of their ftimulus, which I believe always to
be
I9O ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
be injurious, it is found, that a quick fecre-
tion of urine has no effect in preventing the
generation of calculi. A gentleman whofe
cafe is related above, had a ftone generated
evidently during a courfe of the Harrow-
gate waters, which adted powerfully as a
diuretic.
The experiments made with the faturated
alkaline folution, as an antifeptic, confirm the
obfervations of Mr. Colborne, on the effedts
it iliewed on his urine ; and we may infer from
both, that no danger is to be apprehended
from any putrefactive tendency, which, as an
alkali, it might be fuppofed to produce.
In the former editions of this work it is
mentioned as a probable conjecture, that a fo-
lution of the /^/alkali faturated with Fixible
Air, might prove equally efficacious with the
vegetable in the relief of calculous complaints.
Mr. Colborne's very judicious experiments,
which fhew that it poffeffes the fame folvent
powers upon the gravelly concretions out of
the body, together with the great fimilarity it
bears in its chemical properties to the vegeta-
ble alkali, firft led me to adopt this opinion,
which has been fince confirmed, by confidering
what
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA, 191
what did not before occur to me, that this
remedy in form of a mineral water had long
been in life, and even high reputation, for the
cure of fimilar complaints.
The waters of Carlfbad in Bohemia, fo
called in honour of the emperor Charles IV.
who in the year 1370 difcovered their me-
dicinal virtues, are celebrated by Hoffman
for their good effects in calculous com-
plaints. " In cafes,"* he fays, " where
the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, are clogged
with tartarine mucus, and gravel, or where
a calculus is actually formed, and by re-
maining fixed in the urinary palfages ex-
cites
* Sive enim renes, ureteres et vefica muco tartareo
et fabulo obfideantur, five calculus et lapidofa ma-
teria in ureterum cavo fubfiftat et diros dole rs fufcitet,
tam praeciara Carolinarum eft facultas, 1 copicfius ad
renales tubos delatae, intus contentas fordes ct mate-
rias alienas aliquando et fluxiles reddendo ejiciant, fpaf-
ticis autem ftricluris ureterum pefiftendo, eofJemque
ampliando et laxando humeri* i r jhserefcentem in
eorum alveo lapidem protri' et el id int. Qj,iiri
ipfam autem generationem c; Ai ejufque c emenr
turn antevertunt; dum hurr. .s diluunt et fal ainem
et acrimoniam eorum conte:;iperant, quo minus mu-
cofae et falfae materiae coire ct concrementum lapidofum
exoriri poflir. Accedit et illud quod thermales hze aquae
fi urina cum ardore et dolore ftillet> exoptatiflimam
fpondeant opem. Hoffman de Thtrmis Caroiims, § XI Vr,
Cap. V.
ig2 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
cites the moft direful agonies, the virtues cf
the Carlfbad waters are particularly fervice-
able, by loofcning the adherence of fuch
matters to the urinary duels, and warning
them away, and alfo in abating the fpaf-
modic ftrictures of the paffages, and thus
procuring a free difcharge for the calculous
concretions. "
<c They moreover,'* as he fays, " pre-
vent the generation or increafe of calculi,
by their diluting qualities, and by their
moderating the faline acrimony of the hu-
mours, by which the faline and mucous
matter is prevented from acquiring a hard
or ftony confidence. Thefe waters like-
wife produce the happieft effects in abating
the heat and pain that accompany the paffage
of the urine. "
The good effects above mentioned to be
produced by the a rlfbad waters, are al-
mofr, exactly the fame with thofe which
proceed from the ufe of the Mephitic Al-
kaline Water, which is by no means ex-
traordinary, if we confider that the two
remedies refemble one another fo nearly.
The water of Carlfbad contains, as its
principal
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I93
principal impregnation, the * foffil alkali
largely combined with -}- Fixible Air, which
explains its beneficial operation in this dif-
order more fatisfa&orily, than by referring
it altogether to the aerial impregnation, as
is done by Dr. Dobfon. However, ac-
cording to Hoffman's account, it contains
but a dilute folution of the alkaline fait,
not more than one drachm J being con-
tained in two quarts of the water, whereas
eight times that quantity is contained in
the mephitic alkaline liquor. But we
know that a confiderable proportion of fa-
O line
* AfFufo fyrupo violarum thermae hse viridem colo-
rem induunt. De Thermis Carolinis, § VI. Cap. II.
f Thermae ha- cum quocunque acido, five fit mite,
ut acetum, five forte, ut fpiritus falls, vitrioli, aut
riitri, effervefcunt cum magna bullularum et exhala-
tionum in aerem copia. De Thermis Carolinis^ § VL
Cap. II.
Licet odor circa fcaturiginem obvius, volatile quod-
dam principium falinum prod at ; non tamen urinofi
quippam redolet, fed fimilis odor ferme eft illi, quando
coquitur fal tartari cum ejus cremore miftum in aqua.
De Thermis Carolinis, § XIII. Cap. II.
% Ex libris duabus medici ponderis obtinuimus
drachmam materiae falino-terreae, quae aquae ope ite-
rum liquata, et per chartam emporeticam traje&a, con-
cretione facH, falis puri dedit drachmam circiter dimi-
diam : hoc fal, tefle fapore, proxime accedit ad in-
genium falis tartari intenfe alcalizati. Confligit enim
cum quovis acido, et cum fale ammoniaco mixtum,
penetrantiflimum volatilem fpiritum elicit. De Thermis
CaroUnis, § VII, Cap. II,
194 0N THE EFFICACY OF THE
line matter is always loft in fuch experi-
ments, it not being poffible to recover from
a folution of this kind, as much of the fait
as we are affured it contains; part of it being
diffipated by being changed into volatile alkali,
by being united with phlogifton, and part
loft by cryftallizing on the filtre, and by
other inaccuracies unavoidable in fuch trials.
It is therefore certain that the Carlfbad water
contains a larger proportion of alkali than is
ftated by Hoffman, though at the fame time
the impregnation is not ftrong. To make
amends however for its weaknefs, the Carlf-
bad water is drunk in much larger quantity
than what the mephitic alkaline water is
taken. Hoffman fpeaks of from 15 to
18 cups, as the daily quantity for rather*
weakly people to begin with, which, fays
he, is increafed by mod of thofe who ufe
it to thirty, and by fome few to forty cups
a day.
How much the cup or ollula, as he calls
it, might contain, according to our mea-
fure, I cannot determine ; but I think we
can
* Proinde tutlus eft primo die XV. tantum vel
XVIII. ebibere ollulas, nifi majorem dofin firmitas,
minufque mobilis corporis confhtutio fuadeat. Infe-
quenti vero tempore, plurimis ad XXX. ufque quo-
tidie ollulas, paucioribus ad XL. 2fcendere conducit.
D$ Tbermii Cgrolittis, Cap. VII. § VI.
AQtJA MEPHITICA ALKALINA* 1Q$
can fcarcely fuppofe that a mineral water
could be given out in cups of lefs than a
quarter of a pint contents. The middle dofe
then, at this rate, mud be three quarts and
three half-pints daily, which would contain*
according to Hoffman's calculation, which
is unqueftionably below the mark, 1 12 grains
of the alkaline fait, which is not very diffe-
rent from the quantity contained in a pint of
the Mephitic Alkaline Water above defcribed,
which holds 120 grains, which is to the
quantity daily taken in the Carlfbad waters as
15 to 14.
The fame celebrated writer afcribes nearly
the fame virtues to the Selters water, u which,"
according to his account, " has a wonderful
efficacy * in complaints of the kidneys, blad-
der, or ureters, when thefe organs are either
obftrudled by tartarine mucus, or calculous
matter, or in a corroded and ulcerated ftatc.
Whilft it abates the acrimony of the humours,
O 2 it
* In renum, veficae et ureterum morbis, qui vel a
tartareo muco et calculofa materia has vias obitruente,
vel ab erofa et exulcerata ipfarum fubftantia prove-
niunt, admirabilem habet virtutem. Dum enim hu-
morum acrirnoniam temperat, mucum difiblvit et eluit,
renefq; veiicam et ureteres a materia ipiius inhserente
repurgat, non modo ad calculum prsecavendum, aut
jam
1G6 Otf THE EFICACY OF THE
it diffolves and waflies out the mucus, and
clears the kidneys, ureters, and bladder,
from any matter of this kind that may be
lodged in them, and tends, not only to pre-
vent the generation of a calculus, or to flop
the increale of one already formed, but alfo
affords the moft defirable relief in the ftran-
gury, and when the urine is voided with pain
and difficulty, and is thick and turbid in its
appearance." The Selters water, as well as
, that of Carlfbad, is impregnated with the
*foffil alkali, but in larger proportion, two
quarts of the Selters water containing four
fcruples of alkaline fait, whereas the fame
quantity of the Carhbad water contains no
more than three. The alkali however here,
as well as in the other, appears to be fully fatu-
rated
jam prsefentis incrementa impedienda, praefentis eft effi-
caciae, verum etiam in ftranguria difficilique ac dolo-
rifica urinae craffce ac turbidae mictione, exoptatiflimas
atFert fuppetias. Hoffman de Elementis et Viribis Fontis
Selterani, § XIV. Cap. II.
* Selteranarum libras duas medicas fuper leniori
Jgr.e, quem carbones fubminiftrarunt ardentes, evapo-
ration! commiiimus, et en ! materia^ albae falinae te-
nuiflimae, drachmam unam cum duodecim granis ob-
tinuimus. — Idem refiduum in aqua liquatum et per
chartam colatum bibulam, praebuit lixivium, ex quo,
lenioris exhalationis ope, alcalini falis fcrupulos duos
obcinuimus. Hoffman de Element, et Viribus Fontis Sel-
terani, § V. Cap. II,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I97
rated * with Fixible Air. I do not know
in what quantity the Selters water is taken ;
but if it be drunk as largely as the Carlibad
water, about 1 ^o grains, or two drachms
and a half of the alkaline fait will be the daily
dofe, if we compute each ollula or glafs at a
quarter of a pint contents. Milk appears to be
commonly joined with Selters -j- water in
diforders of the kidneys, the milk ofaffes
efpecially ; and fpices $ and other aroma-
tics are alfo occasionally combined with it,
much in the fame manner as is advifed in ths
prefent work.
Dr. Nooth, a gentleman whofe know-
ledge and fagacity in philofophy, as well as
Jn medicine, are well known, fuggefted to
me the probability that the alkaline fait, fatu-
rated with Fixible Air, and cryftallized,
O 3 might
* Sicuti ergo fingula haec experimenta planum at-
que teftatum faciunt fontem Selteranum affluentem
ialis alcalini puri copiam in complexu fuo alere, ita
pariter ex variis a me obfervatis phaenomenis evictum
effe credo, eundem inftar omnium aquarum falubrium
maximeque acidularum, puriffimo illo volatili et mine-
rali fpiritu elTe imbutum. Ibid. § VI. Cap. II.
Nee dubitare amplius licet, quin eidem fpirituofo mi-
nerali in^redienti, falqbris harum aquarum facultas
euod maximum partem tribuenda eft. Ibid. § IX.
Cap. II.
t Ibidem, § XI. XII. XUI. XIV.
t Ibidem, § XIX. 2
I98 ON THE EFFICACY OF THE
might perhaps be equally eftedual as a li-
thontriptic, and in abating the acrimony
of the urine, as the mephitic alkaline folu-
tion, whilft it would be more convenient,
as being caiily portable, and alio as it would
be free of any Stimulus, which the fuper-
abundant quantity of Fixible Air might pro-
duce on the urinary paflages.
Not having made a trial of this prepare*
tion, I cannot anfwer for its effects in this
way, but mould think it not unlikely to fuc-
ceed, efpecially when we reflect that a fait
of a fimilar nature, crystallized from the
Carlfbad waters, is recommended by Hoff-
man * in fuch complaints. If fuch a prepa-
ration
* Et cum ob abforbentem fuam facultatem, acidtpn,
cujus cum terra connubium gignit calculum, cicurare
et in medium fai convertere vaieat ; hir.c tarn ad aver*
tend rei coaguli genefin, quam exturbandum
minorem calcuium infignis eft efScaciae. Quo nomine
m iis commendari vix poteft, qui, vel 00 nativam,
vel ab alio qualicunque errore diartetico, contractem
renum et urinaria? veficae imbecillitatem, ejufmodi
calcuiofis concretionibus et generandis et fovendis funt
idonci. Qu.madmodum pariter fingularum ejus ex*
periuntur eificaciam, qui vehementcs a calculo in arc-
turn ct nervorum urtterum cavum ir.trufo, dolores fen-
tiunt, quibus, prae omnibus aliis medicinis lithontrip-
ticis, tarn refolvendo, praefertlm fl recens fuerit tar-
tarei muci concrementum, quam exturbando illius co-
pam egregie et cito, opituiatur fai Carolinarum. Dt
Bali alt Carslinarum, § XXII,
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. I99
ration be attempted, it will be necefiary to
ufe the greateft caution in previoufly faturating
the alkaline folution with Fixible Air to its
fulleft extent, and of carrying on the evapo-
ration as gradually, and of courfe with the
leaft heat pomble, and frequently removing it
from the fire, and fuffering the fait to cryftal-
lize, which la ft procefs alfo mould be gra-
dual -, and therefore, when the liquor is re-
moved from the fire, it fhould cool very
flowly, and when cold be carefully poured
off from the cryftals that are formed, and
again evaporated in like manner. I appre-
hend that it would be proper, when the
liquor is evaporated pretty nearly to the point
at which cryftallization would begin to take
place, when the liquor mould be cold, to put
it again into the glafs machine, and impreg-
nate it a fecond time with Fixible Air;
which will probably, by fupplying the Fix-
ible Air that may have been diflipated by
the heat, accelerate the cryftallization, ana!
enfure the neutralization of the alkali. The
mephitic alkaline folution, when meant to be
evaporated, fhould be made much ftronger
than when it is meant to be drunk, yet mould
not be fo much loaded as to impede or clog
the tubes through which the Fixible Air
rifes. About four ounces of fait of tartar
O 4 to
200 ON THE EFICACY OF THE
to a pint of water, feems likely to prove a
proper quantity. It mould be noticed that
the ftronger the folution, the longer time
it would require to he neutralized by the
Fixible Air.*
Perhaps the foflil alkali might be more
convenient for this purpofe, as it cryitallizes
more eafily than the vegetable ; but it muft
be obferved alfo, that the foflil alkali will
cryitallize before it be perfectly neutralized
by the Fixible Air, and on that account more
caution will be neceflary in faturating it per-
fectly before any evaporation be commenced,
and of conducting the evaporation itfelf as
flowly as poflible.
Experience will belt afcertain the dofe in
which fuch a remedy may be taken. Perhaps
one drachm daily might be fufficient to begin
with, which might be gradually increafed
to two, three, or more. Hoffman lays, that
the Carlfbad fait is taken to fix drachms, or
an ounce, without producing any other effect:
than that of proving gently laxative.
To
* Should any perfon be inclined to make a trial of
the Aerated Alkali, either the Vegetable or the Poffile,
it may be had, ready prepared, in great perfection, cr"
Mr. Thomas Willis, at the Hermitage, Wappirig, a
molt ingenious practical chemift.
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA 201
To what the wonderful propenfity, in cer-
tain habits and conftitutions of body, to ge-
nerate urinary calculi, is owing, is yet undif-
covered. Various modes of life, and regimens
of diet, have been affigned as caufes, and many
feels have been adduced as proofs ; but thefe
accounts are all fo ambiguous, inconnftent, and
contradictory, that little can be concluded from
them. Hard waters are at one time believed
to produce them ; at another, they rather tend
to prevent their generation : wine is at one
time preventive, and at another productive, of
calculi; and malt liquor, which fome con-
demn, is by others as extravagantly recom-
mended*.
It appears highly probable, that the caufe
originally contifts in the ftructure or nature of
the fecreting gland itfelf. By what means this
can change the quality of the fluid, fo as to
render it at one ti:i;e apt to precipitate its con-
tents, and at another to hold them in perfect
folution, is to us inconceivable ; but not more
fo than the generation of blood from the
chyle, or of bile from the blood, the me-
chanifm or procefs of which is probably
among the iecrets of nature too deep for
our comprehenfion. It is at leaft certain,
that confinement to a certain pofture will in
fome
* See Medical Commentary, p. 128.
2C2 ON THE EFFICACV OF THE
fome inftances produce this complaint. I have
feen it originate from fitting long at a feden-
tary employment, as writing -, and from long
confinement to bed, by an illnefs no ways con-
nected with calculus. Ramazzini makes the
fame obfervation of perfons whofe way of life
requires a ftanding poflure ; which he in-
ftances by that of the attendants at the courts of
princes, thofe of Spain efpecially, among whom
diforders of this kind were particularly fre-
quent.
Wether thefe theories be true or falfe ; whe-
ther the remedy a£ts by means of the chemical
combination with the fluid fecreted, or by any
ilill more obfeure means upon the fecreting
organ itfelf; the fadts ftill remain unim-
peached. The cafes above related evince,
beyond a doubt, that the painful fymptoms in
calculous diforders have been removed, and
eafe procured, by the ufe of this remedy, and
this without any ill effedt on the general
health; but, on the contrary, with great
amendment of it in moft cafes. To account
for thefe, is the province of philofophical in-
veftigation ; and with that view I have, how-
ever imperfed. they may be, offered my fenti-
ments : but whether the opinion I have here
adopted be well or ill founded, the fatfts are
equally
AQUA MEPHITICA ALKALINA. 2O3
•
equally valuable, and will, I truft, encourage
the farther trial of a remedy, which, in a man-
ner the mod eafy, and favourable to the health
in general, bids fair to relieve, in a degree
hitherto unexperienced, one of the moft ex-
cruciating diforders that is incident to human
nature.
POSTSCRIPT.
TH E following Cafe, which did not ar-
rive until the work was lent to prefs,
is too important to be omitted, as it points
out the ufe of this remedy in a complaint of
the urinary paffages, unattended with calcu-
lus, and probably owing to a peculiar acri-
mony in the fecretion itfelf. This cafe is
attefted by a gentleman of great eminence in
his profeffion, and whofe candour in the nar-
rative does him the higheft honour.
A young woman in her 29th year, and
who had hitherto enjoyed very good health,
began in the month of March, 1789, to have
frequent
204 ON THE EFICACY OF THE
frequent dull pains in the region of the blad-
der, and to pafs her urine frequently, and in
fmall quantities, attended with acute pain
and fymptoms of ftone. On this account fhe
was founded ; and no itone being found, her
complaint was fuppofed to be occafioned by
a fchirrhus at the neck of the bladder, and
this opinion was Strengthened by her always
defcribing a fenfe of weight there. The wea-
ther being unfavourable for a mercurial courfe,
it was thought expedient to give her the Ci-
cuta till the fummer advanced; and that me-
dicine was perfifted in for two months with-
out any relief: her ftomach then began to re-
ject it, even in the fmalleit dofe ; and it con-
fequently was difcontinued. She now was
confined to a regimen of milk, farinacea, and
marfhmailow tea, in which gum arabic was
diffolved : for a few days fhe thought herfelf
rather better ; but at the end of a fortnight
a new appearance took place, fhe began to
pafs large quantities of mucus with her urine;
and from this period her pain increafed to
that degree as to require the occasional ufe of
large dofes of opium. In the middle of July
fhe began a mercurial courfe, and iubfrituted
a pill of the Extradum Hyofcyami at bed-
time for one of opium ; which was continued
to Odtober, without producing any other
change
AQtf A MEPHITICA ALKALItf A 205
change than a great diminution of ftrength.
Being now tired of medicine, fhe requefted
to defift from every thing of the kind, except
the pill with opium, which alone afforded a
temporary fufpenfion of pain. In the mid-
dle of October fhe went to pafs the winter
with her friends in the fouth, and did not
return till the May following. The appear-
ance in her urine was now changed : inftead
of large quantities of mucus, fhe pafled little
or none ; and once in four or five days fhe
evacuated bloody urine ; and this evacuation,
was conftantly preceded by lancinating pains
and a fenfe of weight at the neck of the blad-
der ; which fenfation left her after the dif-
charge took place, and fhe then remained
tolerably eafy for a day or two. The difor-
der now appeared very analogous to the piles:
and Sauvages, in his Nofologia Methodica,
under the title of Hematuria Hsmorrhoidalis,
refers to apparently fimilar cafes, noticed by
practical writers. On account of this new
fymptom, fhe was direaed to take fmall dofes
of the vitriolic acid, by taking two ounces
of the tincture of rofes every four hours : but
this medicine, after a fhort trial, producing
no effect:, fhe requefted to take the Mephitic
Alkaline Water, which had been ftrongly
recommended to her by a friend, who had
experienced
206 ON THE EFFICACY OF Tttg
experienced very great relief from it in a cafe
of gravel, producing occasionally bloody
urine. On coniidering the various means
that had been hitherto unfuccefs fully em-
ployed for her recovery, it was thought ad-
vifable to confent to her requeft, although,
upon the ftrideft examination of her urine
from time to time, not the fmalleft particle
of fand or gravel had ever been difcovered :
accordingly fhe began to take it as diredled
in the Treatife on Aqua Mephitica Alkalina,
by Dr. Falconer ; and in a few days fhe was
fenfible of a great abatement of pain, and
fome decreafe in the appearance of blood in
her urine j and thus fhe continued gradually
to recover, and in fix or (even weeks became
perfectly well, and has continued £o, not-
withstanding fhe has left off the ufe of the
water for fome time.
WILLIAM INGHAM.
Newcajlky Dec. 21, 1791.
The following Cafe came too late for in-
fertion, unlefs where it is now placed.
It is a notable inflance of the lithontrip-
tic powers of the Aqua Mephitica Alkalina.
It is highly probable that the great number
of
AQUA MEPHITICA ALTIALINA. 207
of fragments which the patient voided in
December laft, were once concreted into
one or more large calculi, and that the dif-
folvent power of the remedy feparated them
into portions, fo fmall as to admit of being
difcharged by the urinary paffages. The foft-
nefs of confidence of the laft which he paffed
feems to put this fuppofition nearly beyond a
doubt, and to eftablifh this quality of the
remedy on the moft reafonable grounds.
Norwich 9 2^tb February, 1792.
Mr. G. Harwood, an eminent attorney of
this place, had for fome years been troubled
with fuch complaints as clearly indicated
either the retention of fabulous matter in the
kidneys and bladder, or the formation of a
calculus in the latter. About the midfum-
mer of the year 1789 thefe complaints were
much increafed, and he was recommended
to try the Alkaline Mephitic Solution. After
he had taken this rather more than twelve
months he paffed eight (tones, all with fmooth
furfaces, the largeft of thefe about the iizc
of a common pea: from this time he regu-
larly perfevered in the ufe of the folution,
and in December laft was feized wTith a moft
violent
2oS ON TH ICACTj &C,
violent attack j and in the courfe of rat
more than a week he voided nearly one hun-
i and 6 :one, and at lalt one
.11 iione lb foft that it would have brc
to pi. ;htefl prefibre.
DC this time he has had no return of his
complaint ; nor has he made any bloody
urine "ore this the gentleft exer-
cife ufed to promote), although he lbmetimes
wali;
Ke ftill c: :e the folution ; as,
bee the! a at times to void
{mall pieces of ftor.e, me% which
ho altogether attributes bo iti ale.
VTTHILL, Slrgeon.
Card. H. :d.
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